No livestock/cattle auction No processing or cold storage facilities culture, not interested in farm work not glamorous, not high paying, hard “lazy” – No focus on early education; employing youth raises safety concerns and employer liabilities Transportation costs of operation Non-agricultural political influences No staffing capacity Lack of local support fairs, 4-H, etc. – Lack of financing and working capital; assistance not available due to financial constraints Aquaculture overshadows agriculture; protection of critical areas limits farm opportunities Topography Amount of publically owned land Lack of nurseries, lack of marketing Opportunities Technology; improved communications Demand in the aquaculture market Pacific Mountain Private Industry Council programs for employment in Mason County – HOPE Gardens USDA Food and Nutrition programs to assemble wellness programs; Farm to Table, Farm to School Collaborate with Enterprise for Equity, making connections Utilize educational institutions create internships for students to work on farms – South Sound Food System Network assist in attracting processors, people interested in – sustainability Farm to Table Economic Development Council Strategic Plan for Agro-Tourism Multi-purpose/-use lands Threats legislature’s reductions on small farm tax exemptions Climate change Aging operators losing people to work or take over farms – Increase in number of restrictions for the transportation of livestock Water allocation and availability issues Non-Agricultural political influence Waters of the United States – Any Big Surprises from this Analysis? That there are not more networking opportunities That water will be the biggest and most central issue That more people are not participating in the VSP process
No livestock/cattle auction No processing or cold storage facilities “lazy” culture, not interested in farm work – not glamorous, not high paying, hard No focus on early education; employing youth raises safety concerns and employer liabilities Transportation costs of operation Non-agricultural political influences No staffing capacity Lack of local support – fairs, 4-H, etc. Lack of financing and working capital; assistance not available due to financial constraints Aquaculture overshadows agriculture; protection of critical areas limits farm opportunities Topography Amount of publically owned land Lack of nurseries, lack of marketing Opportunities Technology; improved communications Demand in the aquaculture market Pacific Mountain Private Industry Council – programs for employment in Mason County HOPE Gardens USDA Food and Nutrition programs to assemble wellness programs; Farm to Table, Farm to School Collaborate with Enterprise for Equity, making connections Utilize educational institutions – create internships for students to work on farms South Sound Food System Network – assist in attracting processors, people interested in sustainability Farm to Table Economic Development Council Strategic Plan for Agro-Tourism Multi-purpose/-use lands Threats legislature’s reductions on small farm tax exemptions Climate change Aging operators – losing people to work or take over farms Increase in number of restrictions for the transportation of livestock Water allocation and availability issues Non-Agricultural political influence – Waters of the United States Any Big Surprises from this Analysis? That there are not more networking opportunities That water will be the biggest and most central issue That more people are not participating in the VSP process
minutes_1.24.17.docx