CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 12/17/01

Farmers Must Add Value to Crops, Experts Say

The future of American agriculture is in jeopardy unless farmers have a way to add value to the crops they grow and bring consumers closer to the farm gate.

Scientists, farmers and farm policy makers from around the country gathered in Tifton, Ga., Dec. 13-14 to discuss new ideas on how to accomplish this and put dollars back into the rural economy.

Subpar Rural Economies

"Economic gains are uneven across America. And you see the lowest growth in areas where we grow commodity agriculture," said Mark Drabenstott, director of the Center for the Study of Rural America of the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City.


Photo:Brad Haire

Mark Drabenstott, director of the Center for the Study of Rural America, tells participants at the Symposium on Value-added Agriculture that 75 percent of rural U.S. counties are in economic trouble.
Despite $104 billion in government payments in the 1990s, three out of four farm counties in the United States had subpar economies, Drabenstott told participants at the Symposium on Value-added Agriculture.

The future will have two types of agriculture, he said: conventional, commodity-type farming and new, product-oriented agriculture. This new approach will have to grow, develop and market products the consumer wants.

"Commodity agriculture will persist. But the biggest payoff for rural America lies in products (to sell)," he said.

Such ideas include renewable energy sources derived from crops, nutraceutical crops, farmer-owned co-ops or any way to put farmers' products on the grocery shelf.

Rural Development

The future of agriculture doesn't lie solely on the farm, he said. Rural areas will have to be developed through equity capital, the encouragement of local entrepreneurs and the infusion of technical assistance into "Main Street" America.

"Rural America has chased the smokestacks (for too long)," Drabenstott said. "Growing your own is much more viable."

Tough Business

"Growing commodities right now is tough business," said Gale Buchanan, dean and director of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "If we can add value to these commodities and add dollars to the farm, it would not only help the farmers but those communities where they live. Agriculture has a significant economic impact on the entire state, but especially the rural communities that depend on it."

"Growers must be innovative and progressive at times like these," said Randy Hudson, director of the UGA Emerging Crops and Technologies program.

Drabenstott said, jokingly, that one of the biggest problems facing this new value-added agriculture is getting 200 farmers in the same room to agree on something. But, he said, it can be done.

The symposium was sponsored by the UGA CAES and the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism. The strategies and findings of the symposium were presented to key members of the Georgia legislature.

Brad Haire is the former news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Gale A. Buchanan Dr.
Randy D. Hudson
Mark Drabenstott
University and state leaders cut the ribbon during the Science and Ag Hill dedication ceremony. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA) CAES News
UGA dedicates first phase of Science and Ag Hill modernization 11/01/24
The University of Georgia held a dedication ceremony on Oct. 30 to celebrate the completion of the first phase of renovations to modernize research and instruction facilities and infrastructure on UGA’s Science and Ag Hill. This area of campus, located just south of Sanford Stadium, includes buildings dedicated to a variety of scientific disciplines such as biology, physics, geology and agricultural sciences.
CAES doctoral students Sofia Varriano and Leniha Lagarde follow farmer Clay Brady to the pasture where many of his chickens are kept. CAES News
UGA researchers study how free-range chickens influence farm sustainability 10/31/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Researchers in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are studying how pastured and free-range chickens impact ecosystems on integrated crop-livestock farms. Supported by a $749,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, entomology doctoral student Sofia Varriano and her thesis advisor, agroecologist and systems biology Professor Bill Snyder, are testing the promise of integrated crop-livestock agriculture to increase the sustainability of smaller farms.
Kaytlyn Cobb is now spearheading a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm as regional assistant director. CAES News
Kaytlyn Cobb joins UGA Grand Farm to boost agricultural innovation in Georgia 10/30/24 Sean Montgomery
Growing up in north Georgia’s Franklin County, Kaytlyn Cobb knew her aspirations in agriculture would always lead her to new opportunities. Inspired by her dedicated community and diverse background, Cobb is now spearheading a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm as regional assistant director. Hired in August, Cobb hit the ground running to continue development of the fast-forming ecosystem between Grand Farm, the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and global strategic partners.
Kevan Lamm teaching undergraduate students CAES News
CAES researchers prepare students to address complex challenges of the future 10/29/24 Emily Cabrera
Over the next three years, researchers in the University of Georgia’s Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication aim to transform undergraduate education in agricultural and environmental sciences by integrating systems thinking — an approach that encourages students to see the bigger picture by understanding how different components within a system interact.
Thermal imaging technology could improve the production of fruits and vegetables. CAES News
Thermal imaging may help fruits, veggies stay fresher longer 10/28/24 Savannah Peat
Before your favorite produce arrives at the grocery store, it must be carefully harvested and maintained across long stretches of time. A recent University of Georgia review suggests new temperature measuring technologies could make that process much simpler, amid growing agricultural challenges fueled by fluctuating climates. Maintaining temperature, humidity and light is critical to ensuring fruits and vegetables don’t spoil or deteriorate rapidly. Temperature spikes are the root of adverse outcomes, so monitoring these changes quickly and accurately is key.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Georgia Bio awards recognize UGA inventor, corporate partners 10/25/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang, Delta Innovation Hub resident Dalan Animal Health, and Athens manufacturer Meissner Corporation were recognized for their achievements in the life science industry at Georgia Bio’s Georgia Life Sciences Summit, held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta. The Golden Helix Awards celebrate the contributions of Georgia legislative, academic, corporate, and advocacy leaders working to grow the life science industry and foster strategic partnerships that create a healthier world.