NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
April 2, 1998
North Dakota college agriculture students said that access to capital, education, and technology will be keys to a brighter future for agriculture in the state.
Of the 600 agriculture students surveyed at North Dakota State University, Bismarck State, the University of North Dakota-Lake Region, Dickinson State and North Dakota State College of Science at Wahpeton, more than two-thirds said capital and education are needed to improve the future of North Dakota agriculture and rural communities.
Forty-seven percent said availability of financial capital and resources will most affect the growth of the agriculture industry in North Dakota while 13 percent said an educated workforce was key. Another 18 percent said technological advances would most affect the growth of agriculture.
Of those surveyed, 63 percent said they'd like to farm after graduation and only 43 percent said they're planning to farm. That nearly two-thirds of the students would like to farm is encouraging, says Pat Jensen, vice president and dean for agricultural affairs at North Dakota State University.
"Our students have all kinds of opportunities. Almost 100 percent of our students graduating with an agricultural major have job opportunities waiting for them. And those opportunities span the world," Jensen noted. "That 63 percent said they'd like to take that opportunity and put it into farming is a very positive statement."
Of those who don't plan to farm, 35 percent said the primary reason was no start-up opportunity, 19 percent said there's not enough economic return in farming to support their needed lifestyle and 16 percent said they're concerned with the stability of production. Those factors have influenced students to identify a need for financial resources as a top concern.
"Technology and education takes capital and right now that's a big conern," said Mark Jirik, an NDSU senior in agricultural economics from Mahnomen, Minn. Jirik is chair of the NDSU Agricultural Ambassadors, the student group that directed the survey.
Ag Ambassador Krysta Olson, a junior in agricultural economics from Burlington, N.D., said she expects that her family farm will need to add irrigation and other technology to survive. "But that's just going to add more debt. Net return is getting smaller and smaller and smaller," she said.
Despite those concerns, the students were convinced that agriculture would remain a mainstay in North Dakota, with 93 percent predicting that agriculture will continue to be the state's largest industry. Despite growth in agricultural processing in the state, only 15 percent felt food processing would become the state's leading agricultural sector. Two-thirds of the students said production agriculture will continue to eclipse manufacturing, food processing and sales and marketing as the state's leading agricultural sector.
Still, the students said attracting and creating value-added processing (29 percent), expanding market opportunities (24 percent) and creating niche markets (8 percent) should be top priorities for development of agriculture in North Dakota.
Value-added processing and niche marketing may offer the brightest future from smaller family farms, noted Ag Ambassador Rhonda Graff, a sophomore in crop and weed science from Carpio, N.D. "If a producer can ensure a market through a value-added cooperative, he's not going to have to settle for something he can't get by on," she said.
Of the students surveyed, 51 percent said they would like to stay in North Dakota after graduation. Only 43 percent said they actually plan to stay in the state. The students also reinforced that traditional strengths in North Dakota are still important. They cited community support as the greatest benefit of living in rural North Dakota. The 28 percent of students who plan to leave the state said quality of life and the state's family-friendly atmosphere would be key in a decision to return to the state.
Results of the survey were submitted at a public forum before the North Dakota Commission on the Future of Agriculture on Monday, March 31. The commission was appointed by N.D. Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson and held a series of forums around the state to receive input on problems facing North Dakota agriculture.
"When I look at the town where I grew up and the town where I went to high school, I'm concerned about the structure of those communities," said Greg Goodman, an ag ambassador from Milton, N.D. majoring in agricultural economics. "What's going to be left in 20 years? In this discussion on the future of agriculture, that's what we have to concentrate on."
Other members of the NDSU Agriculture Ambassadors are Yvette Anez, Little Falls, Minn.; Kimberly Bitz, LaMoure, N.D.; Erin Brown, Baker, Mont.; Amy Erickson, Woodbury, Minn.; Chris Hoffman, Trenton, N.D.; Laura Klein, South Haven, Minn.; Jeff Knott, Tracy, Minn.; Lorri Loh, Manning, N.D.; Corey Martin, Steele, N.D.; Ryan O'Flanagan, Lindstrom, N.D.; Ryan Pederson, Rollette, N.D.; Randy Uglem, Northwood, N.D.; and Russell Voigt, Mandan, N.D.
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Editors: Patti Sebesta, NDSU College of Agriculture Relations Coordinator, can arrange interviews with members of the Ag Ambassadors and more detail on the survey. Contact her at (701) 231-8524.
Source: Patti Sebesta (701) 231-8524
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629