the future of agriculture (design:SD)

Deuel Area Development hosted a roundtable discussion about the future of agriculture in Deuel County on March 4, 2008.  About 50 participants were in attendance, primarily medium to large size farmers, as well as local businesses and ag lending officers involved in supporting agriculture in Deuel County.  We also had a handful of local food producers interested in small agriculture, including organic and other niche markets.  Participants discussed the following questions in small group conversations over a yummy lunch of BBQ’s and dessert (donated by local volunteers and Deuel County Good Samaritan Society).

1.       What type of ag development is best suited for our area and what are our opportunities for ag development?

2.       What type of improvements and needs do you see that would improve the farm and ag business climate in Deuel County?

3.       How do you see rural housing, recreation, water use, wind development, and smaller farms fitting together in the Deuel area?

There was loads of information, comments, insights, and questions that came up in the meeting, but here’s the jist of it… the future of agriculture in Deuel County.

·         Small & large ag can work together

·         Agriculture is a priority in the Deuel area

·         Ag opportunities: small farming, rural housing, livestock, larger farms, community based wind, and ag business development.

·         Potential new approaches for addressing ag development

·         Potential for local farmers to work together through co-ops, joint transport to market & storage in order to reap benefits of large-scale farming

·         Farm transition from older to younger generations needs attention

·         Local food production is an opportunity to look into

·         Rental opportunities, price control, and keeping local farms local is crucial

·         Road maintenance and improvements are needed

·         And issues such as grassland easements, setbacks, future of CRP, and unstable markets

Agriculture is obviously is a crucial component of our local economy, and Deuel Area Development sees the future of agriculture as a key part of our work in the future.