On what would be a normal Thursday evening for most, the Weather Network tweeted something that would eventually cause a ruckus on social media within the agriculture community.
On the company’s website, it claims:
“we are committed to delivering weather information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, across all platforms – responsive websites, mobile and tablet applications as well as TV applications.”
However, yesterday their twitter account posted something a bit far from the weather.
If you really want to help save the planet, you could seriously consider limiting the amount of beef you eat. pic.twitter.com/eoOFeLc1l5
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) July 19, 2019
This tweet sparked outrage among the #AgTwitter world, and eventually people started to delete their Weather Network app, and encouraged others to do so as well.
You can’t forecast 2 days out accurately and now you think you’re an expert on food consumption?
— Gerry Ritz (@GerryRitzxMP) July 19, 2019
#boycott @weathernetwork #eatbeef #supportyourfarmers funny how it’s deleted now ????? pic.twitter.com/g4n62o7fx4
— Christi (@ChristiFriesen) July 19, 2019
Dear @weathernetwork,
I hope from the backlash on Twitter, as well as the simultaneous deletion of thousands of your apps, you are seeing the error of turning your back on science and customers.
If you need a chat about the reality of farming and beef production, drop me a DM. pic.twitter.com/EXPrkuDtBg
— Adrienne Ivey (@adrienneivey) July 19, 2019
I’ll be adding myself to the likely long list of users deleting your app today.
— Laura Sytnyk (@Shortnyk) July 19, 2019
Sometime later, the company deleted the video, but kept the tweet still active. The next morning, the company issued a correction reply tweet, and said it had, “incorrectly stated the world population would reach 10 billion by the year 2020.”
**Correction: We incorrectly stated the world population would reach 10 billion by the year 2020. According to the United Nations, the world will reach approximately 10 billion by 2050.** Here is the updated video: https://t.co/OSbHmSuHub
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) July 19, 2019
Many then started to share why they own cattle, and others shared facts around beef production.
True stats from…https://t.co/XxvI4M7xSU
— Janet Krayden (@CdnAgvocate) July 19, 2019
Hey @weathernetwork here we are managing a fairly fragile bit of #grassland to ensure 100s of bird and wildlife species have some productive greenspace. All while sequestering more carbon than anyone realizes. BTW not possible without #beef, you uninformed fear mongering asshats pic.twitter.com/vW9MvWL1rv
— JWilliams (@jdubb_TTI) July 19, 2019
If they can’t predict when a #Twitter Storm is coming why should people expect @weathernetwork check their facts? Beef production is a very small contributor to Global GHG. Next time you want to help the environment encourage people to get out & BBQ a steak burger or roast pic.twitter.com/OiydU9dFsV
— Sask Beef (@SaskCattlemens) July 19, 2019
RealAgriculture has reached out to the Weather Network for a comment in regards to the tweet. On Saturday morning the company replied with the following statement:
On July 18, 2019, The Weather Network posted a video highlighting a World Resources Institute (WRI) report that was released on Wednesday July 17th. The WRI is a global research organization that spans more than 60 countries, focuses on six critical issues at the intersection of environment and development: climate, energy, food, forests, water, cities and transport.
This report discusses a possible strategy of reducing beef consumption, as one of many methods to help assist with achieving food sustainability for the future. (http://sustainablefoodfuture.org/)
We, The Weather Network, will not actively advise people on their food consumption choices. The purpose of this article was merely to focus on sustainability and upon further review, we determined that our video and post did not reflect our intention.
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