Still marching to the value-added beat

By Edgar Olson
Executive Director

Another Minnesota legislative session has concluded successfully for AURI. It is reassuring to know state leaders recognize the need for the applied research and technical assistance that AURI provides rural entrepreneurs and farm groups. I want to thank everyone who helped secure funding for AURI’s programs.

The current condition of the state’s farm economy and the role of value-added agriculture were frequent topics during hearings, discussions and debate at the capitol. These discussions drew attention to the dire situation many producers are in due to low commodity prices, and pointed to the need for value-added opportunities for producers to improve their bottom lines.

As always, in this issue of Ag Innovation News we’ve tried to highlight some of the value-added ventures we are supporting. Some of these projects may have received direct financial assistance, but most have been given technical, business planning or marketing help.

In this issue you’ll find out about AURI’s involvement in a cooperative development program at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. This program aids the expansion of farmer-owned co-ops in Minnesota — co-ops that utilize nearly every commodity grown here.

We’ve also taken a look at industrial hemp. One would be hard pressed to find a topic that has generated more controversy the past few years. Legalizing its cultivation has been debated in the Minnesota legislature for several years. We examine the pros and cons of growing it here.

Value-added agriculture can now be a part of your high school’s education plan. AURI sponsored the development of a value-added curriculum for use in schools around the state and across the country. Developed at the University of Minnesota, this curriculum teaches students through direct experience in a value-added venture.

Then there are stories about the establishment of one of Minnesota’s few goat dairies, about a farmer-owned company using a low-value byproduct of soybean processing, and how corn and wheat starch are being used to keep consumers of poultry products safe.