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NCGA
Task Force Probes Agriculture's Future and Value Added Opportunities
(7-02-01)
The major forces
driving U.S. agriculture, opportunities to influence those forces and
ways corn growers can take advantage of upcoming changes in agriculture
were the focus of the second meeting of the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) Future Ag Structure Task Force recently near Chestertown, Md.
Bill Horan, Rockwell
City, Iowa farmer and task force chairman, said the task force has specific
goals. "We're also looking at value-added opportunities and models
that will develop over the next three to 10 years," he said.
Attending the meeting
were: Horan; NCGA President Lee Klein; NCGA CEO and Executive Vice President
Rick Tolman; Craig Floss, executive director of the Iowa Corn Board;
Wallie Hardie of North Dakota; Mark Schwiebert from Ohio; Loren Tusa
of Minnesota; Terry Wolf from Illinois; Gil Meyer of Dupont; Neil Strong
of Syngenta; David Kohl from Virginia Tech and Marcia Taylor from Farm
Journal;
At its initial meeting,
the task force identified various trends as definitively reshaping U.S.
agriculture, resulting in the development of at least six business models.
During the previous
meeting, each task force member presented a case study demonstrating
those trends and describing one or more of the business models. "The
resulting discussion was focused on going more in-depth in identifying
the 'mega-trends' and fleshing out business models," Horan said.
The third and final
meeting is scheduled for September, at which time Horan said final thoughts
as well as data and analysis will be presented to support the projected
business models.
"At the final
meeting, we'll begin working on a white paper that will capture the
thinking of the task force with respect to the future structure of ag
in the U.S.," he said.
"We're also looking at successful models NCGA members can consider.
The models focus on opportunities and methods for adding value to corn
production and to give members the ability to put an input or product
orientation to their business."
Last
reviewed July 2, 2001
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