Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing and Development

Statewide Outcomes:

Agricultural Marketing and Development supports the following statewide outcomes:

·         A thriving economy that encourages business growth and employment opportunities.

·         Minnesotans have the education and skills needed to achieve their goals.

·         A clean, healthy environment with sustainable uses of natural resources.

Context:

The Agricultural Marketing and Development Program (AMD) of MDA promotes the production and marketing of Minnesota agricultural products as food, fiber, and fuel. Agriculture is a major contributor to the economic health of Minnesota, with farm-level production and agricultural processing impact of more than $74 billion and some 342,000 jobs. Current challenges and opportunities for farmers and agricultural companies include: changes in consumer habits and tastes; a more urban population; new and increasingly competitive and global markets; transportation and communication innovations; and evolving environmental and energy policy.

The AMD assists farmers and consumers, local government, environmental and natural resource professionals, K-12 teachers and other educators, Minnesota agribusinesses including the biofuels industry, agricultural organizations and commodity groups. Activities are funded through general fund appropriations, federal grants, dedicated funds and fees, public/private partnerships, and gifts.

Funding for AMD breaks out roughly as 50 percent from state General Fund appropriations, 30 percent from federal funds, and 20 percent from fee-generated funding.

Strategies:

All AMD activities focus on creating a climate conducive to profitable agricultural pursuits that protect our natural resources and meet diverse demands for food and fuel. To achieve the overall outcome of a thriving economy, for example, expansion of livestock operations through the Livestock Investment Grant Program adds value to locally grown feed stuffs, provides employment, and supports both rural and urban businesses. Another example of the economic impact of AMD is the expansion of markets for MN Grown products to families, schools, and restaurants. This supports a diverse agricultural economy, keeps food dollars in Minnesota, and improves agricultural literacy.

AMD helps support a clean, healthy environment because research and on-farm demonstrations of emerging ag drainage technology helps Minnesota farmers improve water quality and protect soil resources while maintaining profitable farm operations.

Education levels are enhanced by AMD’s training and technical assistance programs. These programs serve to support beginning farmers, help existing farmers expand livestock operations, pursue new crops and new markets, and adopt new conservation practices. The Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) ag literacy program provides resources for schools and workshops for teachers, so agricultural concepts can be incorporated into core subject education across the state.

AMD partners include: individual farmers, farm organizations and growers associations; institutions of higher education (primarily MnSCU and the University of Minnesota); commodity promotion councils; USDA agencies; Minnesota Extension; ag businesses; other Minnesota state agencies; Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other local government; Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation; biofuel companies and supporting industries/organizations; and nonprofit organization

Results:

AMD activities show results in many areas: agriculture’s economic and environmental performance in Minnesota (including the biofuels industry); crop prices; federal farm and environmental policies; economic health of rural Minnesota; and foreign trade agreements. Performance has been assessed historically by measuring activity as a proxy for impact. Activities measured have included: demand for division products and services; participation in events, training programs, and financial assistance; number of school children receiving Ag In the Classroom materials; customer evaluation of products and activities; contacts with local government; and others.

We are in the process of adding performance measures and gathering data that better monitor impact of activities: number of farmers using certain practices, growing particular crops, or accessing markets; leveraging of private and federal funds; adoption of emerging conservation practices; percent of immigrant farmers securing long-term farmland; percent of counties with agricultural zoning districts; and livestock cash receipts.

Activities and performance measures related to livestock development (dairy profitability teams) and biofuels (NextGen Energy) are reported in budget activity Grants and Assistance.

Performance Measures Notes:

Schools using Ag Mag: “Previous” is 2007. “Current” is 2012. Data collected by MDA based on teacher requests for the Ag Mag. Percentage is based on Department of Education lists of all public elementary and middle schools in Minnesota. This program operated from 1986-2011 with one FTE. An appropriation beginning in FY 2012 added a second FTE. For further info, see http://www.mda.state.mn.us/maitc/

MN Grown website visitors: “Previous” is 2010. “Current” is 2011. http://www.minnesotagrown.com

Organic Certified Operations: “Previous” is 2008. “Current” is 2011. Data from USDA and accredited certifying agencies. For a list of certified organic accreditors in Minnesota, please see http://www.mda.state.mn.us/~/media/Files/food/organicgrowing/usdaaccredited.ashx

Return on Investment (ROI):. “Previous” is an average of trade missions between 2008 and 2010. “Current” is 2011. ROI calculated by dividing total (actual) sales by total expenditures. Projected sales also obtained when possible. Since 2008, MDA’s missions have maintained a positive ROI ranging from $16:1 to $1,163:$1. Calculations based on MDA and partner contributions to missions, not including staff time. Calculations do not include federal or Food Export funds. For detail on MDA’s international marketing program, see https://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/business/internationaltrade.aspx