The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

"A crisis can happen to any organization of any size and location. Communicating about a crisis early and often is shown to preserve the reputation of the affected organization. But putting together that crisis communications plan can be a daunting task for a communicator. The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources is a manual written specifically for communications professionals in the agriculture industry to prepare for that dreaded, but potential, crisis.

The book is a step-by-step guide that takes communicators through creating and implementing a plan. Using sample worksheets and a list of action steps at the end of each chapter, the book provides an applied, realistic approach to work through the planning process. It starts with analyzing risks, followed by risk mitigation, creating the plan, preparing spokespeople and staff, recognizing warning signs, responding, and evaluating the plan post crisis. The book provides agriculture-specific examples and scenarios, such as managing farm and ranch donations, creating a photo/video library of crops and livestock throughout the growing season, building a network of fellow agricultural communicators, and more.

Delivered in easy and conversational terms and backed by research, The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources is a book any agricultural communicator will want to have in their library.

In scenarios specific to the industry, The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources teaches you how to do the following:

- Think through scenarios specific to your organization using the author-provided worksheets.

- Analyze probable risks.

- Create campaigns to mitigate risks.

- Develop an easy-to-use communications plan flexible to utilize in any crisis.

- Communicate your plan to internal audiences, then train spokespeople and other staff who will be helping with communications efforts in a crisis.

- Prepare your online presence for crises.

- Build your network.

- Work with agricultural and mainstream media.

- Develop a plan for communicating about agricultural donations.

- Manage stress in a crisis.

- Evaluate your performance post crisis."