Ag Producers urged to think globally

Farming is fast becoming a global venture, and Montana’s producers must be prepared to compete on that worldwide stage, a national farm and trade policy expert told participants at the Montana Grain Growers Association’s annual conference Wednesday in Great Falls.

By BETH BRITTON
Tribune Business Editor

"You must look at economic growth worldwide and the ability of customers to buy the Montana product," said Jim Wiesemeyer, vice president for farm and trade policy for Sparks Cos. Inc., a Memphis-based agricultural and commodity research, analysis and consulting firm.

No matter where the farm, to successfully compete, grain growers must be increasingly aware of emerging competitors in Turkey, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine, to name just a few, and also of growing markets in South America, Asia and Europe, Wiesemeyer said.

"You have to be innovative with trade programs, value-added products and ag research," he said.

Equally important is producers’ ability to affect what happens on Capitol Hill.

"Communication is the big hurdle, but grassroots politics still works," he said. Farmers from every region of the country need to travel to Washington and testify about the needs and realities of farming, Wiesemeyer said.

Montana farmers should make a point of visiting other regions, to learn about the challenges facing growers nationwide, he added.

The Farm Bill, which Wiesemeyer said includes $17.4 billion in conservation spending, was a major topic of discussion Wednesday.

"There is a focus on this area, and this is the program of the future," he said. "More money is going to conservation and the environment."

Wiesemeyer was just one of several speakers during day one of the MGGA’s three-day convention, which attracts grain producers from across Montana.

Marliss Picard and her husband, Daniel, were two of the 400-plus attendees Wednesday. The Picards produce spring wheat, winter wheat and barley on land her grandfather homesteaded near Brady in 1910.

"It’s like family. Everybody knows everybody, and it’s wonderful to network with people," Picard said of the convention. But more than that, the convention offers growers the chance to learn about new trends and talk about issues for the upcoming year and the legislative session, she said.

For Picard, the main issues for 2003 include water rights, property rights and farm safety. Picard also is president of Wheathearts, an MCCA auxiliary group.

Also in attendance was Stanford-area grower Ward Ernst, a member of MGGA’s board of directors. Genetically modified wheat and taxes are the issues Ernst said he expects to keep an eye on in the coming year, especially during the session.

MGGA Vice President and Sunburst producer Herb Karst said discussion during the convention also will turn to a possible increase in checkoffs and the future of the State Grain Lab in Great Falls.

Karst said he would like to see some stability with the lab’s funding.

"We feel the lab needs a reserve fund, kept separate from the state’s general fund," Karst said. "We also want minor changes in the way samples are handled and rates are posted."

Representing the younger generation of farmers were Montana State University freshmen and FFA members Mary Anne Anderson of Big Timber and Jodie Johnston of Forsyth.

Interest in agriculture has not waned in recent years. In fact, membership in the statewide FFA organization is at an all-time high — roughly 2,600 members statewide, Johnston said.

Anderson, who is majoring in Ag Education, hopes to become an extension agent; Johnston wants teach high school ag classes.

MGGA Executive Director Richard Owen said attendance at this year’s convention is on track to beat last year’s total of 500. About 320 people registered for the convention; by noon Wednesday, more than 440 had shown up, Owen said.

This year’s trade show, which at 60 has 10 more booths than last year, includes displays on everything from farm equipment and herbicides to financial services and farm organizations.

Randy Scott, product development manager for the western United States for Gustafson LLC, said trade shows offer him the chance to get to know the needs of farmers face-to-face. Gustafson specializes in various seed treatments and the equipment needed to use those treatments.

"We listen to what (producers) want, what they are looking for, and we get direct feedback," Scott said.

Wednesday’s agenda included brief updates from some national associations:

National Association of Wheat Growers

Gary Broyles, president of MGGA and a Rapelje-area producer, also is president of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Broyles said the association’s four priorities for 2003 are natural disaster assistance, the implementation of the Farm Bill, crop insurance and education.

"What we haven’t done is educate and inform the general public on the value of agriculture," Broyles said. "We can’t just focus on Washington; we have to focus on areas that are disconnected from ag. Anytime I think of sending a message to Washington, I think, ‘Who will represent ag if we don’t? Nobody will.’"

National Barley Growers Association

Holly Brosten of Kalispell is a National Barley Growers Association board member. To promote the state’s barley crop, Brosten traveled to Mexico this year as part of a trade mission. She also said the recent announcement of a planned $7 million malting barley shipping plant in Sidney by brewing giant Anheuser Busch could mean a huge economic boost to the state’s producers.

Like Broyles, Brosten said her association aims to increase consumer awareness in 2003.

Alliance for Rail Competition

Terry Whiteside of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance for Rail Competition said the 4-year-old alliance aims to bring competition back to the railroad industry.

"The Alliance for Rail Competition formed to develop consensus among industries and spur legislative discussion," Whiteside said. "Where there’s competition, the rates are lower and the service is better."

Today, four railroads handle the vast majority of rail shipments in the United States, he said.

"Montana suffers from a captive rail monopoly, but Montana is not alone," Whiteside said. "The problem is virtually everywhere, and producers end up in a situation with the highest rates."

Farm organizations are joining forces with partners in the areas of plastics, utilities, and chemical companies to bring competition back to the country’s rails, he said.

U.S. Wheat Associates

Chairman Jim McDonald of U.S. Wheat Associates shared a video about his organization’s worldwide marketing efforts.

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