?If it is on the Internet, it has to be true.? Those words were famously spoken by Former President Abraham Lincoln.
I know you are rolling your eyes at that meme that we have all seen at least a dozen times. The sad thing is, is that no matter how far-fetched that may seem, the truth isn?t far away. Recently a series of TikTok videos have been popping up talking about how farmers in some midwestern states are being paid by the government to destroy their crops.
It simply isn?t true.
For those who don?t know what TikTok is, it is a platform in which users can upload small videos of themselves with quick stories. Many of them are meant to be humorous with funny music. Lately, however, some users are spreading false information about farmers. While many states have been involved, Nebraska seems to be getting the most claims.
Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Steve Wellman says, first of all, the rumors are not true.
Wellman adds that this kind of information is damaging to consumer trust, and understandably so.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has been receiving calls from all over the Midwest about the videos. Wellman says there are no state or federal programs paying farmers to destroy crops.
Wellman is encouraging farmers and ranchers to take to the Internet and social media to correct this misinformation.
It is up to farmers to keep telling their stories. Because if you don?t someone else certainly will.
