Gipson announces proposal for agriculture infrastructure investment

A brand new agricultural plan may value the state between $100 to $400 million. Commissioner Gipson says it’s value paying to make sure ample meals manufacturing.

Throughout his speech on the Neshoba County Honest, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson introduced his proposal for a brand new agriculture infrastructure plan.

Commissioner Gipson, a Republican who’s at the moment campaigning for re-election, mentioned the primary query he has been requested on the marketing campaign path has to do with meals provide challenges.

Whereas Mississippi appears steady now, there are shortages all through the world. Gipson mentioned if the state desires to remain proactive towards future shortages lawmakers must spend money on agriculture.  

The Mississippi SAFE Plan, or Sustainable Agriculture Services Growth Plan, is designed to assist meals resiliency throughout the state of Mississippi, in keeping with Gipson. He says agriculture infrastructure has not been funded by the Legislature in 20 years. Gipson believes now’s the time to take action.

The primary time period AG Commissioner believes his proposed funding is significant to making sure that Mississippi avoids the potential meals shortages impacting different components of the world.

“I see storm clouds on the horizon,” he instructed reporters concerning future meals accessibility. “Agriculture infrastructure is a very powerful infrastructure we have now and it’s a very powerful funding we will make as a result of we’ve received to eat.”

The plan would provoke three regional meals hubs throughout the state, with one in North, Central and South Mississippi. It is going to additionally improve processing tools that can handle meals deserts within the state. Gipson says this can increase meals availability to hospitals and grocery shops.

His plan will even improve the emphasis on native farmers markets, livestock services and the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson. Gipson is imploring the Legislature to make use of among the surplus in income towards additional establishing Mississippi’s financial improvement into agriculture.

Gipson says farmers markets are in want of an replace. There are a lot of throughout the state of Mississippi, with the Mississippi Farmers Market positioned on the honest grounds.

The worth tag, Gipson says, may very well be wherever from $100 to $400 million in funding.

“If the Legislature doesn’t fund this, they’ll’t say I didn’t inform them,”mentioned Gipson.

He mentioned he has gone to the Legislature up to now about this situation, however mentioned it didn’t maintain traction. He indicated he has the assist of many Senators and Representatives to make it occur in 2024.

Gipson in contrast the price for this system to different massive expenditures the state makes yearly, saying will probably be a fraction of the funds put into programs like prisons, training or Medicaid. He mentioned whereas all these avenues are necessary, folks must eat.

“Give this a reimbursement to the taxpayers in a significant means. It belongs to them anyway,” mentioned Gipson.

The ag business in Mississippi is booming. It’s the state’s largest business. In whole, agriculture in Mississippi represented $9.72 billion in commodities for the state in 2022.  It accommodates over 400,000 direct and oblique jobs, accounting for $16.69 billion in wages and over $1 billion in exports.

Total output of the business is roughly $69.1 billion with the primary product being catfish. Candy potatoes observe intently behind however the checklist additionally consists of peanuts, soybeans, eggs, honey, corn and cattle.

The state has roughly 34,700 farms that occupy 10.4 million acres of land with an estimated worth of $29 billion. Practically 87% of these farms are family-owned. Nonetheless, solely 3% are capable of promote on to customers. The typical age of the farm proprietor is almost 60 years outdated.

Curiosity in a profession in agriculture continues to stay excessive. Practically 4,000 college students are at the moment enrolled in Ag Division Schools at Mississippi State College. Gipson emphasised the necessity to guarantee younger folks perceive and have entry to careers within the ag business transferring ahead.