汤头条, industry stakeholders in ag, forestry launch Vision 2030
Contact: Mary Kathryn Kight
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擫eadership from Mississippi鈥檚 top industries met this week at 汤头条 to launch Vision 2030, a collaborative roadmap for the future of agriculture and forestry in the state.
Leaders from some of the state鈥檚 largest organizations such as the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Forestry Association, Cattlemen鈥檚 Association, and Poultry Association joined producers and 汤头条 faculty and leadership in roundtable discussions focused on five areas: commercial crops, specialty crops, livestock, forestry/natural resources and rural communities.
汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum was the keynote speaker and thanked participants for sharing their ideas.
![汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum visits with Delta Council President Bubba Simmons, Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry Laura Vollor, and National Affairs Coordinator for Mississippi Farm Bureau Justin Ferguson following his keynote address at today鈥檚 [June 12] launch of Vision 2030.](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/thumbnail_image001-SS-900x600_half.jpg)
鈥淲e鈥檙e very blessed to have key leaders on campus to visit with our administrators, our leading faculty and researchers in their respective fields to talk about a vision for the future and the role that 汤头条 can continue to play in serving the critical needs of our state鈥檚 agricultural, forestry and natural resource sectors,鈥 said Keenum.
Keith Coble, vice president of the 汤头条 Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, said Vision 2030 sets the stage for collaboration, innovation and strategic planning.
鈥淎 recent study shows that 18.6% of the state鈥檚 economic activity is based on the $9.7 billion/year agricultural and forestry industry production. The economy of most communities in our state depends on these industries; however, technology is changing; markets are changing. This is a unique time for the university and these industries to assess where we are going in the next several years,鈥 said Coble.
Divided into five groups, participants were asked to identify value-added opportunities, potential barriers, strengths and challenges to their industries.
鈥淩ebranding of agriculture jobs鈥 was one idea Bubba Simmons shared. As a producer and past president of the Delta Council, Simmons said a lack of skilled labor and aging farmers are challenges the agricultural industry faces and that efforts must be made to attract a new generation to the field. Similarly, Janet Parker, a stocker cattle operator and president of the Mississippi Cattlemen鈥檚 Association, emphasized the importance of teaching agriculture in the classroom and programs like 4-H and Future Farmers of America.
鈥淭his workshop was a great start to the conversation,鈥 said Coble. 鈥淪everal themes came out from different groups, so hopefully we can come away with some nuggets that will guide us here at the university and guide the industries in working together for the benefit of Mississippi. Ultimately, we want to come back together and end up with a plan that will help the state move forward.鈥
As part of the Vision 2030 initiative, additional meetings will be held across the state throughout the year. The group plans to identify policy recommendations and strategies for agricultural and forestry innovation, rural job creation and economic growth in Mississippi. Recommendations will then be presented to state leaders.
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