Eye on Agriculture - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Eye on Agriculture

Agriculture is where it's at in the region...

(Brad Haugeberg - SunPrairie Grain) "Right now agriculture is in a honeymoon period. Markets are good, there are lots of people wanting to invest in ag so there are some huge opportunities. And salaries have moved up to attract people so it is a good field to get into right now."

Brad Haugeberg with SunPrairie Grain says the industry has reached a critical time...time for new blood to get in.

(Brad Haugeberg - SunPrairie Grain) "I always say it is the most sustainable career you can be in because so long as people want to eat, there is a reason for ag. If you are manufacturing something, it may become outdated. Eating is always there."

The industry needs about 40 thousand new people each year to fill jobs...but colleges are only cranking out about 30 thousand. So right off the bat there is a shortage...pair that with retirements picking up further, and you've got a problem.

SunPrairie recently handed out scholarships to area seniors who are going into the ag field -- and to his delight, some without an ag background are moving into the industry...

(Brad Haugeberg - SunPrairie Grain) "We had a couple from Minot here who took up ag careers that as far as we know don't have an ag background. So we are starting to see and interest outside of just rural people and we welcome that. It shouldn't be overlooked. It is a huge opportunity."

And local talent needs to seize the opportunity...

(Brad Haugeberg - SunPrairie Grain) "If we aren't promoting ag in Minot, ND we sure can't count on downtown Detroit to crank them out for us. We have to be promoting it here."

In Minot, with your Eye on Agriculture, Perry Olson, KX News.