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Alabama Agriculture & Forestry Steering Committee meets with Governor Bentley

Presented a plan outlining job creation and adding money to state economy

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

The two go hand-in-hand, money and employment.

More jobs means there’s more work being done, more products being sold and therefore more money going into the economy.

The Steering Committee for the Alabama Agriculture & Forestry Strategic Plan, whose members include John McMillan, Agriculture & Industries Commissioner, Dr. Billy Powell, President of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and Leigha Cauthen, Executive Director of the Alabama Agribusiness Council, met with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and presented a plan to enhance the State’s future.

The plan, entitled “The Strategic Plan to Grow Alabama’s Agriculture, Agribusiness, Forestry, and Forest Products Industries – 2015-2020” is designed to create jobs and increase Alabama’s economy.

If the plan is enacted, it would see up to 58,000 jobs created and put approximately $7 billion back into the Yellowhammer State.

“Alabama is on the cusp of the golden age of agriculture and forestry,” said Commissioner McMillan in a press release.

The plan’s keys to turning this plan into a successful venture include:

  • Develop greater access to capital for small businesses in the agriculture and forestry industries
  • Develop Alabama’s workforce education with a focus on secondary and post-secondary education and career mentoring programs
  • Maintain and improve the transportation systems for the movement of goods

“Agriculture, forestry and related businesses represent nearly 40 percent of Alabama’s economic output of $70.4 billion a year, and this Strategic Plan provides a clear and concise direction of improving the lives of Alabama’s working families through economic expansion,” Governor Bentley said.

In 2013, Alabama’s top crop was soybeans with more than $239 million produced, followed by cotton and corn.


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