Northwest Partnership Agriculture
Roundtable – Nov 1, 2001
Summary of Issues and Concerns:
Product Alternatives
Participants: Brad Barth,
Hans Kandel, Paul Porter, Richard Nelson, Paul Sand, Dave Hoff
Issues:
Develop new markets
for renewable resources, fuels, etc.
Renewable energy
– farm produced
Create more value-added
opportunities
Add value to crops
currently produced
Producers need a
larger share of the added value
Grow new crops in
NW MN
Agro-tree use for
wood, food, other products
Look outside the
box – different kinds of enterprises to
supplement farm (hunting and recreation)
Defining the Issues
Name
it! The issue is …
Describe
it! The issue can be defined as ….
Criteria
(scored 1 to 6, 6 is high)
Rank
feasibility
Probability of
success
Regional economic
impact
Sustainability
Develop
renewable energy fuel/energy & markets
Farm production
of commodities for fuel
5
4
6
5
1
Create
value added opportunities
More vertical
integration to bring more $ profits to the farm.
3
3
5
3
2
New
crops in NW MN
Develop new crops
for new markets, primarily non-human food products.
3
2
2
4
3
Money
generating farm enterprise other than traditional production
Using farm assets
for alternative businesses, ie tourism and recreation
5
4
1
2
4
Moving toward the vision:
An Issue: Develop renewable
Energy/Fuel Markets
A Strategy: 1.
Develop a business to develop a niche market for energy products.
Develop a proprietary
energy product
Partners Large energy consumers
/ large investor
Education
Participants: Lauri Polansky,
Paul Rutherford, Margaret Anderson, Aase Hamnes, Susan Westrom
Issues:
Farmers use
internet for communication and marketing
Consumers
communicate their preference to farmers
Educate public
on value of family farms
Educate public
about connections between subsidies and cheap food
Consumer education
– ‘where your food comes from’
Defining the Issues
Name
it! The issue is …
Describe
it! The issue can be defined as ….
Criteria
(scored high, med, low)
Rank
Profiability
Feasibility
Cost
Ability to reach
audience
Time
Consumer
Education
Connection between
subsidies and cheap food
H
H
L
H
L
1
Producer
Education
Know customer
needs and wants
H
M
H
?
L
2
Consumer
Education
Use of value-added
products for new technology – research, medicine
M
M
H
H
L
3
Producer
Education
Internet marketing,
communication, resources book on website
M
H
H
H
H
4
Producer
Education
Extension and
Vo/Ag programs
M
H
L
H
M
5
Consumer
Education
Value of Rural
Lifestyle
M
M
H
H
L
5
Moving toward the vision:
An Issue: Consumer Education
– Connection between Subsidies and Cheap Food
A Strategy: Call
it “Food Policy” instead of “Farm Policy”. Make up videos
explaining the price of food and distribute it where food is sold.
Farmers share breakfasts and dinners. Have Extension help to educate
all ages of consumers, starting with children – school age – college
bound – etc. Compare our costs to other countries. TV
ads, radio, newpaper. Find websites that are available that explain
the subsidies and let people know.
Partners Extension
Service, Partnership, Vo-Ag Groups, School staff, Volunteer Farm Groups,
Supermarkets
Policy
Participants: Milo Mathison,
Richard Magnusson, Steve Dahl, LeRoy Stumpf, Greg Hilgeman, Jim Stordahl,
Bennett Osmanson
Issues
Promote People
on the Land – rural sustainability
Government
programs that favor rural sustainability
Reward responsible
innovation
Remove counter-productive
incentives & unintended consequences
$$$ available
to get “over the hump” for change
Citizen participation
in market policies
World Trade!
World level
playing field
Multinational
Corporation Control
Stop large
corporations from taking over agricultural production
Need more
animal agriculture and a friendlier state government
Impediments
to maintenance and expansion of animal agriculture
More animal
agriculture, needs to return to NW MN
More business
structure flexibility – enhance capital
Loss of public
involvement in Ag Research – governments abrogation of that responsibility
to private industry.
Defining the Issues
Name
it! The issue is …
Describe
it! The issue can be defined as ….
Criteria
(scored high, med, low)
Rank
Resources
Funding
Time
Effective-ness
Regu-
latory
How
sets policy?
Corporate influence
on policy decisions is too strong – money talks.
1
Animal
Agriculture
Reverse the decline
of animal agriculture in NW MN
2
Research
Funding
More public investment
in basic research – balance between public and private.
3
Ag
Business Consolidation / Concentration
Enforce anti-trust
laws.
4
Moving toward the vision:
An Issue: Who sets policy?
A Strategy: More
citizen participation in setting public policy. Identify the most
effective forums for increasing participation – time is limited.
Partners Commodity groups,
General farm organizations, corporate partners, legislators
Marketing Opportunities
Participants: Curt Knutson,
Harold Stanaslawski, Bob Pieper, Jay Nord, Dave Torgerson, Duane Cariveau,
Zack Fore, Pete Kappes, Linda Kingery
Issues:
Increase profitability
by direct connection between producer and end user.
Viability of Duluth
grain port is important to our area.
We need to break
out from traditional markets – traditional markets are too centralized
and consolidated.
Better connection
between farmers, food industry and consumers.
Farmer ownership
of high-value traits
Entrepreneurship
– Individual and group
Balance – resource
diversity, land uses, goals = resiliency
How to obtain market
access
Value added with
a value
Animal Agriculture
Products produced
for market demands
Identify market
opportunities
Name
it! The issue is …
Describe it!
The issue can be defined as ….
Rank
Identify
the markets and focus
Better connection between
farmer, food industry, and consumer. Identify high value opportunities
1
Animal Agriculture
1
Creation
of new markets
Education of consumers on
what we can provide that they can’t get now.
Accessing
the markets
Remove barriers and develop
entities that can access markets
Understanding
obstacles
Why are we doing now?
Business
structure solutions
State policy changes
Production
Mike, Justin Dager
Issues
Water Management
for production
Defining the Issues
Name
it! The issue is …
Describe
it! The issue can be defined as ….
Criteria
Rank
Ecomomic
/ Environmental Benefit
Tile drainage
High initial cost, long term
benefit
1
Water Quality
All systems must be long term
to be sustainable
2
Surface drainage
Must be respect neighbors
and laws
3
NRCS programs
Retire land with guaranteed
payments
4
DNR protected
waterways
Claim control but no responsibility
5
Moving toward the vision:
An Issue:Water Management
A Strategy: Managing
excess water effectively for profitable production
Partners Zack Fore, NRCS, DNR,
Watershed Board