From live TV greenrooms to deep-dive op-eds, Michelle Miller—“The Farm Babe”—is the go-to voice reporters call when food headlines need facts. Her myth-busting takes have appeared on Forbes, global newscasts, and podcasts that rack up tens of thousands of downloads. Whether she’s breaking down carbon markets or translating CRISPR for breakfast-table chat, Michelle keeps the science solid and the tone refreshingly human.
Everything we eat has had their genes modified by humans. Everything. In nature, carrots were originally white…
GMOs are now planted in 28 countries and on 444 million acres around the world. But why?
There is a lot of misinformation about GMOs online. But why is that? Where is this info coming from?
Around 90 percent of certain crop farmers have been growing GMOs for a couple of decades now, but what are they and why?
You know how if you swallow an entire bottle of aspirin you could die? You know how if you have a headache and take two of them it’s totally safe, helpful and beneficial?
I took this picture of the weeds at the edge of our cornfield back in August. Could you imagine what would happen if Farmers didn’t have the ability to control weeds in our fields?
In a world where a majority of people can name all of the Kardashian sisters but have never heard of Dr. Norman Borlaug or Dr. Mary-Dell Chilton, it’s been nice to see the rise of popular social media tags like #ScientistsArePeople
As a farmer, writer, and public speaker, I work very hard to dispel the myths of modern agriculture. Over 90% of certain crop farmers here in the US are growing GMOs for good reasons…
A little over a year ago, Dannon yogurt announced they would be transitioning to non-GMO sourced feed for the dairy cows that provide the milk for Dannon yogurt.
GMOs improve livestock fertility! OK, now that I have your attention, let’s just say … not necessarily GMOs.
The USDA is set to review GMO labeling again. Apparently, the idea is to put QR codes on foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients…
Vandana Shiva is coming to my hometown to lie. Not cool. For those unaware, Shiva is one of the world’s most famous anti-GMO activists, hailing from India.
In mid-April, famous anti-GMO activist Vandana Shiva was paid nearly $20K by my hometown university to speak on campus.
I first heard of citrus greening disease several years ago from Canadian agrologist Robert Saik in this awesome TED talk.
As farmers, I think we’ve heard it all. From drenching fields in chemicals to factory farming, there is so much misinformation out there about what happens on today’s farms.
I really wish there were more celebrities out there who embraced the biotechnology and the benefits behind modern agriculture.
One time, I gave a speech in Dublin, Ireland, at the International Association for Plant Biotechnology Congress. It was an excellent opportunity…
Last month, I delivered a speech in Dublin at the International Association for Plant Biotechnology conference.
Step aside, farmers. There’s a new celebrity on the block who wants to tell us how to do our jobs.
Farmers, have you ever tried getting through to someone about livestock production only to have them put a wall up and not want to listen to what you have to say?
I had the most fascinating experience the other day! I wanted to learn more about how thoroughly meat is inspected so I took some time to interact with a food safety inspector and ask questions.
Most of us who eat meat/eggs care about health and animal welfare, right? In a day and age where we are bombarded with marketing tactics, is it really worth it to spend $6 a dozen for eggs?
I have heard many rumours about livestock nutrition and wanted to set the record straight. Yes, cattle can, and do, happily eat grain like corn and soybean meal!
Thanksgiving is almost upon us and it’s time to bite into that big juicy slice of turkey. But have you ever noticed the marketing label on the package where it says “no added hormones and steroids?”
The rumours are swirling, but how truthful are they? We’ve heard time and time again from people who say, “Go vegan, save the planet!”
Did you know that all meat and dairy products are antibiotic free? If farmers use antibiotics on livestock…
I’m a bit of an accidental science geek thanks to my fascination with agriculture, which lately made me question food additives.
The time has come! It’s one of the busiest (and most adorable) times of the year on our farm!
Over time I have written articles discussing the improvements on livestock care. I like to say that “big” doesn’t mean “bad” in terms of animal husbandry…
Grass fed and grain fed beef are nutritionally equivalent. Okay, well not technically, but the differences are so minimal
<GULP> PETA?!? That is one word farmers don’t like to hear. It’s no secret that they are a radical animal-rights extremist group and no friend to farmers.
In a world where the average person is six generations removed from how their food is produced, it can be difficult sometimes to decipher fact from fiction on the internet.
You may or may not heard the popular myth that livestock on larger sized farms are “pumped full of hormones.”
OK, from a first-impression standpoint, this drives me bonkers. Clearly the image is using fearmongering to generate clicks.
We’ve all probably heard the stories. Perhaps you’ve heard that factory farming is a way for big corporations that greedily care only about profits…
How do you create a recipe for eliminating or substantially reducing antibiotics on today’s modern farms?
I’m a shepherd. A sheep farmer. And love to send Snapchats to my friends of all the fun and cool things happening on the farm.
Eating a diet based on fruits, vegetables, protein such as meat, nuts, and eggs, and some whole grains are part of a healthy balanced diet.
Have you ever seen that show, “Billion Dollar Buyer” on CNBC? It’s where billionaire Tilman Fertitta turns to small businesses to meet his customers’ needs.
I woke up this morning tagged on some rebuttal tweets to actress Natalie Portman where she had railed against “factory” farming and how awful it is.
I came across this article recently, and after reading it, I left scratching my head a bit.
While the Organic industry spends Billions of dollars through different organizations leading with fear as an industry to get you to buy their products, they are horribly hypocritical.
A lot of people buy organic foods because they believe organic means free from chemicals and pesticides.
The term “factory farm” is one that tends to annoy us as farmers. More than 97 percent of farms are family owned, and livestock can be taken great care of regardless of size or label.
Over the years, we in agriculture have seen miraculous improvements in our industry.
As I’ve written about many times before, many food labels are false or misleading.
I haven’t always been a farmer. Far from it, actually. Throughout my 20s, I was actually a resident of big cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.
Ahhhh Monsanto. One company that continually makes headlines, usually in a negative way and particularly coming from people who are not involved in agriculture.
By now you may have heard about Stonyfield Organic’s latest marketing ploys. They’ve decided to exploit children to scare people about perfectly healthy and safe conventional foods and GMOs.
October is breast cancer month and I always love brands that donate money to charity for a good cause. Who doesn’t, right?
Crop protection products, also known as pesticides, play a huge role in crop health. If you’ve ever had a big garden before you know that insects and weeds…
Happy Valentine’s Day! On this day devoted to love, it is estimated that U.S. consumers will spend nearly $19 billion on this holiday.
As the old saying goes, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Farming is voted one of the world’s most dangerous jobs…
Last week, I wrote an article called “8 anti-science food companies that don’t deserve our money.”
The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, and what better time to sit back, reflect, and think about all we have to be thankful for.
Ever wonder how coffee is farmed? Recently I had the pleasure of touring a small family farm plantation in Costa Rica and learned so much!
It’s no secret that Hollywood has a problem with agriculture. Whether it’s pushing fake meat, demonizing livestock, or spreading nonsense about soil management and GMOs…
I will never forget the time I walked into the shed before the sun was up and couldn’t see a thing. Before I even had a chance to turn on the light switch it was too late.
Move over, MacGyver. The farmers have arrived and could teach you a thing or two about duct tape and baler twine.
What is a typical consumer supposed to do with the overload and bombardment of today’s food labels?
I live and farm with my boyfriend, a fifth generation farmer, on a 2,000-acre farm in Northeast Iowa. Together, we raise sheep and beef cattle and grow oats, alfalfa, GMO corn and soybeans.
When deciding to write about this topic, I quickly learned one thing: People are very passionate about their steaks!
In an ongoing debate, mostly related to money and politics, the issue of Roundup herbicide is one that continually swirls social media.
“Appreciate your fruits and vegetables. This unusually warm winter brought early peaches and blueberries throughout southern Georgia and north Florida.
I recently came across this article about food-related movies, and I couldn’t agree with it more.
I don’t claim to be a relationship expert, but after being in a relationship with a farm boy for over four years there are some things I’ve learned that may be worth passing on.
With the March for Science quickly approaching this Saturday, there’s never been a better time to stand up for Science in Agriculture.
Recently, I got a pretty awesome notification from Facebook — they now allow you to report fake news.
What types of labels do you look for in the grocery store: Organic? Gluten free? Non-GMO? Free range? No added sugar?
I have a confession to make: I’ve never met a real commercial farmer who doesn’t like Monsanto.
When Irish biochemist Dr. Pearse Lyons founded his company Alltech in 1980 with only $10,000…
They say America loses an acre of farmland per minute to urban development. With that being said, there’s never been a better time to allow technology…
Everywhere you look, it seems like farmers markets are popping up more and more, and people really want to buy local and know where their food comes from.
Lately in the news of agriculture there has been a lot of controversy over the popular herbicide glyphosate being labeled as a carcinogen in California.
Tornados are the kinds of things in which you think, “That could never happen to me.”
Amidst a Twitter firestorm controversy this week is Panera Bread — caught in a mix of consumer anger and frustration.
Farming is considered one of the world’s most dangerous jobs, and for good reason!
“Food Evolution” is an agricultural documentary pertaining to GMOs.
Pesticides can literally save lives. Now that sounds silly, right?
I gotta give a shout out to my home state. Yes, I am a proud cheesehead. I love brats, beer, squeaky Culver’s cheese curds…
I sometimes feel like we live in a world of extremes. Are you a Republican or a Democrat? Are you pro-this, which means you’re anti-that?
Winter is upon us! Now that fall harvest is over for us in Iowa, it’s time to prepare for the next chapter…
Life is always throwing twists and turns on the farm. A farmer or rancher wears many hats, both literally and figuratively.
Make no mistake: Living and working on a farm will always demand your time.
In the social media world, there are many times where we in the science and agriculture world want to bang our head against the walls towards celebrities.
Horticulture was the class I took as a senior in high school for an easy “A.” Learning about plants?
What makes a person a farmer? It’s got to be more than just growing food, because every John or Jane Doe with a garden would then be called a “farmer.”
Last fall, I was fortunate enough to take a trip to India. International travel has always been a passion of mine, and made a point to visit every continent by the time I was 30.
I once wrote an article about my trip to India and the experiences I had there seeing different types of farms.
Did you know that brown rice and white rice actually come from the same plant? When I heard this, I started wondering: What makes them different?
Our family owns a small agribusiness that helps farmers. We always try to encourage them to adhere to the highest standards of conservation…
For as long as we can remember, dieting trends have always been a thing. From the low-fat craze to the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, etc.
April has been a rough month. While some farmers are dealing with low prices and trying to figure out how they’ll pull through and make ends meet, the wildfires in Oklahoma continue to burn.
Fear is the new sex when it comes to selling something. You may have heard that the popular weedkiller glyphosate is found in food.
We all have those nights out with friends. Perhaps you’re attending trivia night at your local tavern or playing trivial pursuit or watching jeopardy.
I recently attended the 34th annual Alltech ONE conference, and as usual, it didn’t disappoint.
Everyone loves a good joke. Whether they’re longer jokes or short ones, they can be fun for all ages.
Studies have shown that a large percentage of people with college degrees don’t use them in their careers. Are you part of that statistic? I know I am.
I’m gonna put it all out there, y’all. It’s been a tough year, and it’s not looking to get better anytime soon.
I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine about misconceptions that happen about her chosen field.
I started my blog/social media page about 3.5 years ago after seeing a ton of misinformation online about food and farming.
When you think of Ireland, what do you think of? Rolling green hills? Beautiful sheep on pasture? Green grass and cliffs?
“Buy local!” they say. Wouldn’t that be great if we had an abundance of different types of food at our fingertips?
Did you know there’s over FOUR THOUSAND uses for corn?
Critical thinking is something I’ve prided myself on and something I discuss frequently when giving public speeches.
Apple iPad. Apple Watch. Apple iPhone. Apple … orchards?
With social consciousness blooming, the farm-to-table trend is a way to feel a responsible connection with our food.
Guest host on Red Shirt Friday they talk about animal husbandry, her "Buckinglamb Palace", undercover videos from activists, food labeling, GMO's and much much more.
Everything about harvest season says long hours and hard work, and we know that meals are often eaten out in the field.
It’s the festive time of year! While you’re busy trimming your home, sipping hot cocoa, and playing holiday music, Santa is busy checking his list to see who has been naughty and nice…
Michelle Miller used to be that city girl who completely feared her food and spent way too much money on it.
The 2018 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show took place from Jan. 5 to 10 in Nashville, Tennessee…
Building off a Farm Babe column posted on AGDAILY, Nick Saik at KNOW IDEAS MEDIA went after six popular and pervasive farming myths.
AGDAILY columnist and national agvocate Michelle Miller (aka Farm Babe) provided the insights for Nick Saik’s video about the eight things farmers want you to know about farming.
Farmers and scientists need to use the tools of social media to far greater effect to counter myths being spread about food production and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) used in farming.
Nearly 90 miles from the nearest Starbucks in the northeast corner of Iowa, Michelle Miller’s fashion degree doesn’t mean much.
Michelle was a city slicker who “feared her food”, but having found her “Prince Farming”, she is now dedicated to debunking food myths under the guise of the Farm Babe
Michelle after contacting Drew on Twitter is finally a guest on the show. She is here to bust myths about agriculture such as food labels, factory farming, GMOs political subsidies and they conclude with a long discussion about farmers and their values.
Michelle Miller has made a name for herself internationally as the Farm Babe... dedicated to busting myths in the agricultural sector and advocating on behalf of industry.
Michelle Miller grew up in Wisconsin and always had an interest in agriculture. When she reached college she traded in rural life for the big city, working in LA at designer stores and living a big city life.
The Farm Babe Michelle Miller takes David on a tour of Iowa pig farms, and a dairy farm, as he records discussions with staff about slaughtering, animal housing, ethics, and their views on animal rights activists.
Leah talks with Michele Miller from Northeast Iowa who is active on social media and is known as the Farm Babe
Guest host on Red Shirt Friday they talk about animal husbandry, her "Buckinglamb Palace", undercover videos from activists, food labeling, GMO's and much much more.
In certain parts of the world, grasshoppers are known as a delicious delicacy, and insects are eaten by 2.5 billion people annually.
Engage your audience with insightful talks on advocating for agriculture, myth-busting, and sustainable practices by the Farm Babe.