Farm Bureau encourages extension service to get back to farming roots.

September 18, 2017

Farm Bureau encourages extension service to get back to farming roots.

#MasonCountyAgriculture.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Farm Bureau would like to see the county’s Michigan State University Extension Service get back to its agricultural roots. During the farm bureau’s annual meeting last week, the membership adopted a resolution calling on the extension service to increase and promote its exposure, expertise, and education to the Mason County agricultural industry and Farm Bureau members to work to improve the production agricultural industry in Mason County.” 

During the meeting, members spoke up about the lack of agricultural experts in the Mason County extension service. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the service’s recent move out of Scottville to West Shore Community College.

“I think we should encourage MSU extension to remain rooted within the farming community,” said MCFB President Seth Earl. “MSUE’s mission is to help people improve their lives through the educational process. As farmers within Mason County we believe that it’s pertinent that MSUE strives to collaborate and establish a relationship with farmers to further our industry by using scientific, fact based research to implement farming strategies.”

“Michigan State University Extension appreciates the Mason County Farm Bureau’s recognition of the important contributions our extension educators make to agriculture in Mason County,” said Michael Krauch, MSUE District 5 Coordinator. “Because of our shared values, we are eager to continue to work with the Mason County Farm Bureau to increase our exposure in the community and to improve production agriculture in Mason County.  Through educational programs, local research and on-farm visits, Michigan State University Extension strives to bring timely, relevant education to area growers.”

MSUE’s mission statement says: “Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities.”

The service’s website says “In the early years of Extension, ‘demonstration agents’ showed or demonstrated new farming or homemaking techniques. Today, Extension agents use a wide variety of information systems to deliver educational information.”

The website also states that the service has a presence in every Michigan county, and “extension faculty and staff members provide tools to live and work better. From a personal meeting to information online, MSU Extension educators work every day to provide the most current information when people need it to ensure success – in the workplace, at home and in the community.

“Whether it’s helping grow Michigan’s agriculture economy, capturing opportunities that use our natural resources in a sustainable way, controlling health care costs by giving individuals the information they need to manage chronic illness or preparing tomorrow’s leaders, MSU Extension is creating opportunities and building communities that make Michigan strong, prosperous and a great place to live.”

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