What is Critical to Value Added Processing (potential for return or vision for what SD needs)

At the first Key Leader Roundtable Value-Added Committee Meeting this Tuesday, the members found these points to be critical to value-added processing. You will also find the minutes below. What do you think is critical to value-added processing in South Dakota?

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What is Critical to Value Added Processing (potential for return or vision for what SD needs)

-        High quality livestock (beef and pork)

-        Developing smaller niche food processors

-        Local food markets

-        Positive zoning regulations (example of ideal regulations)

-        Need for education about LLCs

-        Importance of finding end market for product (good feasibility studies)

-        Financial feasibility of processing

-        Finding the right market for our products outside of South Dakota

-        Create long-term businesses that are diversified in their markets

-        International marketing opportunities

-        Transportation gaps (bringing in empty trucks)

-        Finding the right consultants and other resources

-        Supporting Entrepreneurship

-        Finding funding/banks to lend to value added projects

-        Why do we need value added processing in the state/what are the benefits/what is the advantage (community development, rate of return)

-        Education about new ideas

-        Livestock zoning vs. water zoning

-        Additional processing for our commodities

-        Livestock production as a value added opportunity to our commodities

-        Address the scale of the projects

 

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Minutes of 12/11/12 KLR Group 5: Value Added Processing Committee

 

Members Present: Alison Kiesz, Terri LaBrie, Bob Weyrich, Carolyn Rudebusch, Lester Moeller, Keith Underwood, Brad Bonhorst, and Cheri Rath.

Members Absent: Alicia Degeest and Fran Fritz.

Alison Kiesz, SDDA, began the meeting by explaining why the committee was here and the purpose of the committee.  A short exercise to get acquainted with the members took place. Bob Weyrich was asked to be the Chairman of the Committee and Terri LaBrie, SDDA, was asked to be the Secretary.

Weyrich reviewed the agenda and copies of the KLR report pertaining to Value Added for 2011 and 2012 was distributed to the committee members.  A great discussion took place on the Critical issues to Value Added Processing in SD (potential for return or vision for what SD needs).  This document is attached.

The committee, at the direction of SDDA, is asked to come up with 4-5 objectives to work on as a committee and report back to the KLR in June 2013.  The objectives are:

1.       Identify resources and gaps in resources for market development of value added projects.

-        Initial listing by Feb 2013.

-        Comprehensive listing by April 2013.

2.      Express support for friendly zoning of production agriculture to provide feedstock for value added processing.

3.      Identify funding options for all phases of value added agriculture.

4.      Invest in agricultural research and facilities.

5.      Develop and communicate a common and consistent message for SD agriculture.

Bonhorst volunteered to take the lead on identifying resources and gaps in resources for market development.  All committee members will work on these as well and report back at the next meeting.

Future meetings were discussed and it was decided that they would be held via conference call the beginning of February and again in March.

All committee members should be thinking of these objectives and coming up with ideas for following through.

Meeting Adjourned.