Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the conclusion of recent regional meetings designed to gather input from local producers for the Future of Agriculture Resiliency for Mississippi, or F.A.R.M., Strategic Plan.
The F.A.R.M. Strategic Plan is being created with the assistance of an Advisory Council representing private and public sectors to secure the future of farming in our state. The regional meetings, moderated by Commissioner Gipson, allowed farmers, agriculture stakeholders and private sector leaders the opportunity to share challenges they are facing, issues that should be addressed, policy recommendations and other pertinent information that may guide the Council in developing the finalized plan.
“Our farmers are the ones working the land every day while facing these growing challenges, so there is no one better to help guide the future of agriculture in Mississippi,” said Commissioner Gipson. “We are grateful to everyone who took the time to attend these meetings and share their experiences and ideas. Their input will play a critical role as the F.A.R.M. Council develops recommendations to strengthen our agricultural economy and ensure that farming remains a strong and sustainable industry in our great state for generations to come.”
Some of the key points brought up at the F.A.R.M. meetings include:
- Labor Concerns – Farmers report ongoing difficulty securing local labor, and the cost associated with H-2A labor is often not financially feasible for smaller producers. Additionally, there is a need for stronger connections between young people and agricultural careers to support workforce development in our state. With many farmers nearing retirement age, questions also remain about who will continue operating these farms in the future.
- Need for Expanded Markets – Mississippi farmers are able to successfully grow a wide variety of crops, but in turn, they need more markets to sell those commodities. For example, Mississippi soybean farmers faced a very difficult year due to lingering trade war effects and limited market access.
- Need for Value-Added Processing – Additional processing infrastructure in Mississippi would allow the state to retain a greater share of the crops grown here. Expanding value-added processing would also create new marketing opportunities for producers – opportunities that are currently being lost to other states.
- Rising Crop Input Costs – Farmers continue to face significantly increasing input costs, while commodity prices often remain unchanged. This growing imbalance is placing considerable financial pressure on producers.
The F.A.R.M. Council also heard concerns from local farmers, ranchers, producers and landowners about the European Deforestation Regulation, the New World Screwworm pest, wild hogs and more. “All comments and discussions from our regional meetings were taken seriously and will be carefully considered as we determine how to move forward,” continued Gipson.
Commissioner Gipson took an immediate step prompted by feedback from the F.A.R.M. meetings to sign an administrative order instructing the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) to conduct a comprehensive review of all departmental programs, administrative rules and guidance documents to identify areas affected by President Donald J. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act and ensure alignment with federal changes. If duplication or inconsistency is found, MDAC will amend or rescind state guidance to conform with the new federal baseline while preserving state authority over local agricultural policy.
Furthermore, Commissioner Gipson plans to establish a working group with representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture, Mississippi State Extension Service and the Department of Revenue to facilitate implementation of the Act’s agricultural, business and tax-related provisions. MDAC will coordinate with the Office of the Governor and other relevant agencies to ensure a unified state response and to advocate for Mississippi producers in any forthcoming federal rulemakings.
Commissioner Gipson stated, “President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins are leading on the national level to put farmers first, put agriculture first. We will be taking every step we can to make sure in Mississippi we put our farmers first in all we do at the Department of Agriculture. And we’ll continue to work with our colleagues in state departments of agriculture across the country to share with them our successes and learn from their best practices, too.”
The F.A.R.M. Strategic Plan is expected to be finalized and released to the public and policymakers by early fourth quarter of 2026.
“I also want to invite everyone to make plans to join us for a very special National Agriculture Day event just south of the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 24, at 10:00 a.m. as we celebrate our state’s leading industry and our resilient, hardworking producers,” said Commissioner Gipson.
