The agriculture task force was formed in 2000 to represent the diverse nature of today’s agricultural community.
Agriculture is vital to our tri-state economy. According to the National Corn Growers Association, in any given year 1 billion bushels of grain, or 60 percent of the bulk agricultural exports, are moved to world ports via the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Approximately 52 percent of the nation’s corn and 41 percent of the nation’s soybean exports are carried on the Upper Mississippi River System according to Upper Mississippi River Basin Association 2000 figures.
Agriculture exports are a key factor in the nation’s international competitiveness and the transportation network – including river, highways and rail – play a crucial role in moving products in and out of the region.
Closer to home, educating the public on the importance of buying fresh and local food products is becoming an important component of agriculture in the tri-state region. Producers and consumers benefit from sharing information regarding the availability, nutritional benefits, economic and environmental impacts of buying local.