HOW YA GONNA KEEP ‘EM DOWN ON THE FARM William E. Hardy, Jr., Ph.D., J.D. Associate Dean for Resident Instruction COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Auburn University

HOW YA GONNA KEEP ‘EM DOWN ON THE FARM

William E. Hardy, Jr., Ph.D., J.D.

Associate Dean for Resident Instruction

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Auburn University

–Basic Economic Issues

• Basic Economic Issues

• Major Rural Problem



• Current Important Programs



• Current Important Programs

• AU College of Ag students

Basic Economic Issues

• Love for the slow and easy-going life style



• Love for the out-of doors



• Love for the out-of-doors

• Love of watching things grow





• Love of working with animals





• Love of working with animals

• Love for the people in the agricultural industry


• Love for the slow and easy-going life style• Love for the out-of-doors• Love of watching things grow• Love of working with animals• Love for the people in the agricultural industry

• Love of the independence of working for one’s self


• Love for the slow and easy-going life style• Love for the out-of-doors• Love of watching things grow• Love of working with animals• Love for the people in the agricultural industry• Love of the independence of working for one’s self

• Love for the qualities of the rural community


• Love for the slow and easy-going life style• Love for the out-of-doors• Love of watching things grow• Love of working with animals• Love for the people in the agricultural industry• Love of the independence of working for one’s self• Love for the qualities of the rural community

• Farmers are well-respected, “salt of the earth”type folks


• Why are we in this building today? Why aren’t we outside tilling the soil or taking care of our cattle?


• Other Goals


• Other Goals

• Other Dreams


• Other Goals

• Other Dreams

• Other Priorities


• Earn a good living so that our families can have all that they want and need



• Have financial security so that we don’t have to work all our lives




• Have sufficient resources so that we may enjoy some of the “finer” things of life





• Ensure that our children have access to a quality education so they don’t have to work as hard as we did on the farm






• Have time to PLAY






• Have time to PLAY

• Have enough resources so that we can provide for others

Major Rural Problem

• Significant OUTMIGRATION

Major Rural Problem

• Primarily a agricultural-based economy

Major Rural Problem


• Little or no industrial activity in the surrounding area

Major Rural Problem


• Little or no industrial activity in the surrounding area

• No presence of a major city to provide other employment opportunities

Loss of JobsLoss of Jobs

Consolidation ofGovernment

Services; Closure ofBusinesses, Schools, Churches



Decrease in PublicAnd PrivateInvestment


Departure of Skilled Workers

and Youth


and Youth

Drop in Birth RateDrop in Birth Rate









and Youth


and Youth










and Youth


and Youth










and Youth


and Youth










and Youth


and Youth










and Youth


and Youth


Major Rural Problem

• The New Homestead Economic Opportunity Act (S 1860)

• Senator Byron Dorgan (D) -- North Dakota

• Senator Chuck Hagel (R) -- Nebraska

New Homestead Economic Opportunity Act

• New Homestead Opportunities for individuals who locate in high out-migration counties



• New incentives for Businesses to expand or locate in high out-migration areas



• New incentives for Businesses to expand or locate in high out-migration areas

• New Homestead Venture Capital Fund to promote business development in high out-migration areas

Current Valuable Programs

• FFA


• FFA

• 4-H


• FFA

• 4-H

• Ag in the Classroom


• FFA

• 4-H

• Ag in the Classroom

• Farm-City Programs

AU College of Ag Students

• Best kept secrets around

19901991

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

2002

Years

100

200300400500

600700800900

1,0001,1001,200

Stu

dent

Num

bers Total

Undergrad

Graduate

Figure 5. AU College of Ag Student Numbers

Table 1. Employment Intentions for AU COA Graduates

• Farming-Ag Production 4.97 %

• Ag Business 23.56 %

• Ag Government 4.92 %

• Government 2.96 %

• Grad. or Prof. School 18.13 %

• Other 38.52 %

• Undecided 6.93 %

SUMMARY

• Economic incentives are a key factor that will keep people in the agricultural industry. There must be jobs off the farm that will help the farm family enhance and add stability to their income.

SUMMARY


• Federal Assistance might be necessary to solve long-run problems associated with the decline in predominantly rural areas.

SUMMARY



• We must continue to emphasize the importance of programs in our public schools, our communities and our cities that help bring a better understanding of the industry of agriculture.

SUMMARY




• We must continue to recruit highly capable students from rural areas into our colleges of agriculture.

SUMMARY




• We must continue to recruit highly capable students from rural areas into our colleges of agriculture.

• We must continue to educate our students relative to the tools and techniques of modern agriculture so they will be able to lead our industry in the future.

Documents

HOW YA GONNA KEEP ‘EM DOWN ON THE FARM William E. Hardy, Jr., Ph.D., J.D. Associate Dean for Resident Instruction COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Auburn University