Agri-Ready County Designation
A Partnership for the Betterment of Missouri
Over forty agricultural businesses and organizations have come together to create Missouri Farmers Care with interest in protecting agricultural economic opportunities in Missouri. Their partnership has yielded the Agri-Ready County Designation program which is designed to promote counties that support Missouri farmers and Missouri’s economic interests in agriculture.
The Agri-Ready County Designation program is a voluntary partnership between counties and Missouri Farmers Care to encourage and protect agriculture and secure it as a thriving component in our state’s economic future. Designation status begins a partnership in which Missouri Farmers Care and our members will work with county leadership to promote agricultural economic development in Agri-Ready counties.
How does a county become Agri-Ready?
County commissioners must come together to apply forAgri-Ready Designation. Application materials are available by contacting executive director Ashley McCarty at ashley@mofarmerscare.com. Any county is eligible to apply. Missouri Farmers Care will review county ordinances and other activities to determine a county’s willingness and intent to support agriculture and grant Agri-Ready status accordingly. Once a county is approved, they will begin working with Missouri Farmers Care to position and promote their Agri-Ready Designated County.
Why should a County Apply for Agri-Ready County Designation?
An Agri-Ready County designation will encourage county leaders, farmers, ranchers and agricultural processors to position the county for agriculture growth and development, encourage on-farm stewardship and encourage partnerships equipping students for skills needed in agricultural jobs. The program encourages local leaders, farmers, agri-businesses to strategically assess needs and opportunities to make sustainable, long-term decisions about investing and expanding farms, ranches and agricultural processing in a county.
Is the Agri-Ready County Designation program statutorily mandated?
The Agri-Ready program is a voluntary program, which recognizes counties actively supporting the health and vitality of agriculture in their county.
The Agri-Ready County Designation protects the $93.7 billion in economic contribution and 456,618 Missouri jobs created by agriculture. The program also supports the Missouri farmers who provide fresh, quality food and feedstuffs in our communities. Every county has something to gain from pursuing the Agri-Ready County Designation. Securing agriculture as a vital part of a county’s economy is a sound business decision.
Furthermore, as more generations are removed from the farm, there is a growing need to educate all consumers about where food comes from and how it is grown and raised. Pursuing the Agri-Ready County Designation is a great way to partner with Missouri Farmers Care to educate communities, recognize the important economic underpinning of our agriculture industry and pave the way for a bright future for Missouri agriculture.
