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Ag breakfast speaker: Agriculture needs 'human capital' infusion

Quincy, IL(Quincy Herald-Whig) -Russ Weathers wants to broaden the definition of agriculture to better reflect the local, regional and global industry affecting men, women and children around the world.

"We're all involved fundamentally. We all eat. We all consume clothing made of cotton," said Weathers, the featured speaker this morning at the ag breakfast sponsored by the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee.

"Wherever I am as an individual in the food chain, whether I'm a consumer or if I am in production, processing, marketing, policy, globalization, science or technology of the industry is my definition of agriculture."

The annual breakfast brings together the farm and business communities to recognize this year's Herald-Whig Farm Family of the Year, the Bill Smithers family of Pittsfield, and the chamber's Agribusiness of the Year, B & B Livestock Supply.

Weathers is president and chief executive officer of Agriculture Future of America. The not-for-profit corporation works to create partnerships to identify, encourage and support college-age men and women preparing for careers in agriculture, and offers leadership and professional development programs for college students.

"There is a need for an infusion of a new generation of human capital to lead and support the dynamics of this industry," Weathers said.

But Weathers said there's no "magic bullet" to draw young people into agriculture, even with its diverse career choices that range from production to management and scientific research.

A recent conference call involving Weathers stressed the need to fill the void in the "supply chain" for geneticists and bioscientists in the next decade brought on by retirements and industry growth.

"There's lots of opportunities," Weathers said. "One of our challenges is how do we begin to take ownership of encouraging young people to look at agriculture from a broader perspective of career opportunities not traditionally thought about."

At the same time, the need continues for people to produce food, fuel and fiber.

"One of the interesting things we learn from our young people is there is a strong percentage that would, if resources were available, be eager to go back into production agriculture, but they're not sure how to do that," Weathers said.

In some cases, the family farm might not be large enough to support another generation, or there might be concerns with the rural lifestyle.

"In many cases, one spouse may not come from that rural environment," Weathers said. "There's a variety of issues from raising children in an educational system that's not standard in the urban market. Medical and health care issues are real to the family, and (so is) employment for a spouse who may have a career goal or plan of their own."

By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR
Herald-Whig Staff Writer

-- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379