Economics   Click on your Choice: download this chapter in a PDF file view web pages: Guiding Principle - Challenge Current Condition Priority Actions   Other Actions Benefits Key to Acronyms

Providing Adequate Infrastructure

Other Actions:

Transportation Systems

DOT forms should have check off boxes for key items that need to be considered in both urban and rural areas to ensure road systems accommodate the needs of agricultural producers, suppliers, services, wholesalers, add-to-value industries and transporters.

Need to ensure that roads constructed in agricultural areas have provisions for tractor lanes — and, if necessary, underpasses or overpasses — so farm equipment can be easily and safely transported to and from fields, groves and pastures. 

Need provisions to promptly repair or replace fences damaged in traffic accidents before farm animals escape, or before wild animals enter fields and groves and damage crops.

Labor

Assist in labor procurement.

Environmental Restoration/Regional Water Management

Agriculture needs a high priority for access to water and flood control.

Need better coordination of water permitting, water availability between local government and water management districts

Research

Research should focus on needs of ag producers, suppliers, services and industries.

As Jim Strickland of Cattlemen Manatee says: "A Dead Horse: Incredible amounts are funded for seemingly old hat ag issues which are duplicated in the private sector. We need to change the mindset of research staff ... But first, we need to address new priorities to keep us profitable. We all know when, how, and what to worm cattle with, rotation grazing and standard practices. 

"Send Fresh Horses: What we need to address now is new research through agencies such as Soil Conservation Service, I.F.A.S., and universities to arrive at methodology and financial statistics to justify paying ranchers for environmental practices maintained or implemented on their land to the benefit of all."

Rick Roth says: "Land grant colleges need to:

Do more ag research with dollars tied to specific demands of society,
Change focus from production to marketing,
Educate ag students why public relations is critical to industry survival."

Need research on crops that can grow in high water table conditions on marginal lands.

Identify and fund other key research needs to create a thriving agricultural industry.

Other Suggestions

Need to provide security patrols to prevent pilfering, poaching and vandalism, which increase dramatically when residential subdivisions locate near agricultural operations. 

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