More than 30 farm and agribusiness groups have signed an open letter encouraging rural residents to get vaccinated.

The letter reminds farmers and ranchers that they regularly administer vaccines to protect their animals, and that approved vaccines are safe and effective. Readers are urged to speak with a doctor or trusted local medical expert to get the facts.

Notably, the letter appeals to farmers' individual choice—a conservative mainstay since the beginning of the pandemic: "You know how powerful an individual decision can be. The decision you make on your farm today will feed your family and consumers around the world. Your choices and your dedication keep families and communities healthy. And just like these farm decisions, the decisions you make now can help ensure the months and years ahead are much brighter as we wrestle COVID-19 to the ground. In farm country, we talk a lot about rolling up our sleeves to get the job done in our fields and past ures. Now it is time that we join together and roll up our sleeves one more time to get this job done."

Read the full article about encouraging rural residents to get vaccinated by Heather Chapman at The Rural Blog.