Agribusiness: WEBSITES--Fed, State, and NGO

Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. along with hundreds of businesses and professionals rooted in agriculture from across the region have been working since 2013 to strategically build on and connect the region’s extensive agricultural business assets in order to develop and position this region to now be known nationally and internationally as thee place for talent, business, innovation and education in relation to agriculture. GreenSeam is made up of 28 counties in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. GreenSeam is an ag powerhouse!

The GreenSeam region boasts an extensive list of ag business concentration and industry dominance amounting to nearly 1,000 ag related businesses! It is a foundation of the GreenSeam economy. It is best put into perspective when you drive between communities in the early fall and see the activity in vast crop fields, specialty food facilities and livestock farms. The production of these agricultural raw materials spurs economic activity across a multitude of industries. Agriculture is a growth segment of the economy for a simple reason: world population growth multiplied by the increase in incomes worldwide equals greater demand for better diets.

As a condition of its USDA Rural Development grant, the cooperating universities comprising AgMRC were tasked to prepare four reports a year and submit them to USDA. These reports summarize the activities completed during each quarter, including Web site development and functions (Commodities & Products, Markets & Industries and Renewable Energy sections), value-added business and economic analysis tools (Business Development section) and outreach activities (workshops, seminars, newsletters and WebMail inquiries).

We created the conservation agriculture movement, which speaks for the land—and for the people who grow our food. As the movement’s leaders, we have three priorities: protecting agricultural land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land.

AFT is the only national agricultural organization that approaches its work in this comprehensive, holistic manner. We recognize the connection between the land, forward-looking farming practices, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. We also recognize the power of combining on-the-ground projects with objective research and effective advocacy.

Today, because of AFT, millions of acres of farmland that otherwise would have been converted into house lots and shopping malls remain in farming, and tens of thousands of farmers and ranchers have adopted better farming practices.

The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land - whether rural or urban - growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year. The Census of Agriculture, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures. For America’s farmers and ranchers, the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future, and their opportunity.

The Center for Rural Policy and Development is a non-partisan, not-for-profit policy research organization dedicated to benefiting Minnesota by providing its policy makers with unbiased information and evaluation of issues from a rural perspective.

The Center’s board members come from all over the state, representing a variety of interests. Thirteen are appointed by the Governor and two are appointed by the House and Senate leadership; all members represent different aspects of rural Minnesota. Remaining members consist of five at-large positions chosen by the board members themselves.

Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization governed by and representing farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement and, thereby, to promote the national well-being. Farm Bureau is local, county, state, national and international in its scope and influence and is non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-secret in character. Farm Bureau is the voice of agricultural producers at all levels.

MSCA is focused on addressing local, state and federal issues that impact the long-term viability of cattle farming in Minnesota.

Food Business Development
Exporting & International Trade
Economic Analysis & Market Research
Wholesale Directory
Resources for Farmers
Beginning Farmer Tax Credit
Disaster and Dairy Financing Options
Farmer Stress

The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) is a partnership between the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota Extension, and the Sustainers' Coalition, a group of individuals and community-based nonprofit organizations.

Pollinators and the Minnesota DNR. The Minnesota DNR helps pollinators by increasing and improving public lands that support pollinators, conducting education and outreach, and carrying out research and monitoring.

Region Nine Development Commission takes great pride in working with and on behalf of counties, cities, townships, and schools throughout South Central Minnesota. Since 1972, being a partner for progress has led to the development of programs and identification of solutions in the areas of economic development, business development, healthy communities, transportation, community development, and leveraging regional resources.

The USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System (ESMIS) contains over 2,100 publications from five agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These materials cover U.S. and international agriculture and related topics. Mann Library at Cornell University developed and maintains this site.