KDA – Kansas Forage and Grassland Council Board member and State Hay Reporter, Kim Nettleton has been tabbed to serve as Feed and Forage Sector Lead for the Kansas Agricultural Growth Strategy project. In the letter below she outlines her role and asks for grower input. The Kansas Agricultural Growth Strategy project is highlighted each summer by the Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth, scheduled for August 23, 2018.

Good afternoon. My name is Kim Nettleton and I wish to introduce myself as the new Feed and Forage Sector Lead for the Kansas Agricultural Growth Strategy project.

I am contacting you for a couple of reasons.  First, to inform you that plans are already underway for our third annual Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth, scheduled for August 23, 2018. Please save the date for this important event as we hope to see you there. As leaders throughout the Kansas feed and forage industry, your assistance, support, input and feedback are especially appreciated and vitally important to developing this collaborative document.

If you are unfamiliar with the Summit, the Kansas Agricultural Growth Strategy project is a direct result of a 2015 Governor’s Economic Council discussion focused on the development of a statewide strategic growth plan for agriculture. These documents have been compiled by the Growth Team in the Kansas Department of Agriculture as part of this Agricultural Growth Strategy project.  For more information please follow the link to the Growth Strategy Project web page.

Second, I am including the links to the UPDATED 2018 Growth Strategy Document and the Feed and Forage Sector Document, both of which include 2017 outcomes and action items.  The comprehensive Growth Strategy Document (updated 1-24-2018) provides background information for all agriculture industry sectors, including desired outcomes for each sector and specific action items to achieve those outcomes.  The Feed and Forage Sector Document also identifies sector challenges and opportunities along with the desired industry outcomes and the action items that will achieve those outcomes. The development of a strategic growth plan for the feed and forage sector will require collaboration between all partners and shareholders in the industry. Both public and private stakeholders must contribute to this planning to identify specific actions and policies that can open the feed and forage industry to new and continued growth.

Lastly, after reviewing the Feed and Forage Sector Document, please provide any and all feedback on action items that you, associated company or organizations, or affiliated public and private stakeholders are in the process of completing. As stated before, the Kansas Agricultural Growth Strategy project is a truly collaborative effort and it is imperative that we track and document all of the movement and success of the entire industry.

Thank you for your dedication to the feed and forage industry, and please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns at any time.  I look forward to working with you to create meaningful and lasting growth in the industry!