Contact: Mary Kathryn Kight

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Leadership from Mississippi’s top industries met this week at Mississippi State University to launch Vision 2030, a collaborative roadmap for the future of agriculture and forestry in the state.

Leaders from some of the state’s largest organizations such as the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Forestry Association, Cattlemen’s Association, and Poultry Association joined producers and MSU faculty and leadership in roundtable discussions focused on five areas: commercial crops, specialty crops, livestock, forestry/natural resources and rural communities.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum was the keynote speaker and thanked participants for sharing their ideas.

“We’re 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 Mississippi State University can continue to play in serving the critical needs of our state’s agricultural, forestry and natural resource sectors,” said Keenum.

Keith Coble, vice president of the MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, said Vision 2030 sets the stage for collaboration, innovation and strategic planning.

“A recent study shows that 18.6% of the state’s 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,” said Coble.

Divided into five groups, participants were asked to identify value-added opportunities, potential barriers, strengths and challenges to their industries.

“Rebranding of agriculture jobs” 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’s Association, emphasized the importance of teaching agriculture in the classroom and programs like 4-H and Future Farmers of America.

“This workshop was a great start to the conversation,” said Coble. “Several 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.”

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.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.