Sustaining the Health of Missouri Agriculture

By Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell

	All of us have people that we depend upon, our families, our friends, co-workers, and others that make a difference in our lives.  One group that we must work not to overlook is the family farmers of Missouri. They not only work hard to continually put food on our tables, but they also play a vital role in our economy. 

	As a former farmer myself, I am familiar with challenges facing today's family farmers and others in rural communities.  These challenges are greater than providing quality food for Missouri citizens, as they include a responsibility for taking care of natural resources and few economic opportunities.  One of the answers to this challenge is the implementation of sustainable agriculture.

	The focus of sustainable agriculture is the connection of economic, ecological, and social objectives.  This is achieved through the inter-linking of the profitability of farms, the care of natural resources, and the quality of life for farm families and rural communities.  Through creating this relationship, sustainable agriculture nurtures the land, builds community, and generates wealth.

	One of the key aspects of this relationship is moving to rely more on the productivity of people who farm and less on the use of purchased inputs or industrial farming methods.   The goal is to optimize the use and management of those resources that are currently used on the farm.  This makes it possible to reduce the use of nonrenewable resources and additional purchased production inputs.  Through this, farms have the opportunity to become more economically profitable by becoming less dependent upon outside resources.  Sustainable agriculture not only makes farms more economically successful, but in doing so makes them more environmentally responsible.  It stresses the conservation and protection of the soil, water, and other natural resources that impact the farm and the community.  Through a variety of techniques, it works to renew the fertility of the soil while protecting it from the devastation of erosion.  By protecting and replenishing the natural resources used during farming, sustainable agriculture works to ensure the opportunity for future generations of family farmers to use healthy and productive land. 

	Our state is taking action to promote the use of sustainable agriculture and work for the betterment of our family farmers and rural communities.  I am proud of the opportunity I had to help with the establishment of the Food Circles Networking Project through the University of Missouri. Its goal is to develop at the local level a Food Circle that is a community-based, sustainable food system.   Through reshaping the relationships that surround food, the community becomes a shared market for local farmers and consumers.
  
	The successes of this program are being built upon by MU's new Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture Program that began this summer. This new program is designed to provide economic opportunities for farmers and others in rural communities by linking farmers, consumers and researchers together in alternative food and farming systems.  Additionally, the Missouri Department of Agriculture and University of Missouri Extension are offering 23 sustainable agriculture demonstration awards through the Sustainable Agriculture Extension Program of the University of Missouri and Lincoln University.  By working to promote sustainable agriculture in Missouri, we are trying to ensure a strong future for family farmers in our state.

	When we sit down to enjoy our next meal, we should pause to thank the family farmers whose hard work puts food on our tables. Through supporting sustainable agriculture programs in order to provide farmers with economic opportunities, we are showing them our appreciation as a state for the important role they play in our communities and lives.