AG DEVELOPMENT UPDATE 



Gail McWilliam 



Did you know? 



New Hampshire agriculture contributes nearly $300 million 



to our state s economy each year and almost a third of this amount 



can be attributed to the ornamental horticulture industry. 



(SPREAD THE WORD!) 



This is the type of information that the New Hamp- 

 shire Department of Agriculture's Division of Agricul- 

 tural Development has been compiling and distribut- 

 ing during the past year Determining estimates for 

 the value of New Hampshire agriculture has been an 

 Important step in creating awareness The informa- 

 tion has since been presented at every opportu- 

 nity — to the media, to consumer groups, agricultural 

 groups, schools, legislators, etc. The more everyone 

 knows and understands about the kind of contribu- 

 tion agriculture makes to New Hampshire, the better 

 for all aspects of the Industry, now and in the future. 

 It s critical for producers to also know and under- 

 stand not only their segment of the industry, but 

 how it fits into the big picture and take an active 

 role in telling the uninformed about New Hampshire 

 agriculture 



The mission of the Division of Agricultural Devel- 

 opment is to enhance and expand market opportuni- 

 ties for New Hampshire agricultural businesses The 

 Division also provides consumer information relative 

 to the industry and New Hampshire products and 

 handles media inquiries as well as other administra- 

 tive tasks 



Resources are limited for agricultural development 

 activities, so that means developing partnerships 

 with other agencies and organizations to develop a 

 team effort on behalf of the industry and share costs 

 The Division tries to focus on the "big picture" of 

 New Hampshire agriculture while encouraging and as- 

 sisting the individual commodity associations to mar- 

 ket their own segment of the industry and work 

 jointly for the benefit of all agriculture 



Examples of projects initiated this year by the Di- 

 vision of Agricultural Development that directly or 

 indirectly impacted your industry include 



• Statistics compilation and development of a fact 

 sheet highlighting the segments of the New Hamp- 

 shire agricultural industry Development of the "agri- 

 cultural innovation booklet featuring New Hampshire 

 agricultural entrepreneurs Development of a picto- 



rial exhibit to help illustrate New Hampshire agricul- 

 ture at a variety of events and shows 



• Agricultural Promotion Mini-Grant program to sup- 

 port the promotion of NH agricultural products Pro- 

 gram provided $t>500 in grants matched to $9000 in 

 funds from organizations and groups involved in agri- 

 cultural promotion activities Fifteen projects were 

 funded 



• The first-ever New Hami)shire hgricullural Producls 

 VJholesale Guide, available in May and providing 

 source information on a variety of items grown and 

 made in New Hampshire Since May, more than 500 

 guides have been distributed to potential buyers 

 across the country and another printing is in process. 



• Tourism efforts, including the compilation of infor- 

 mation on agricultural businesses that welcome bus 

 tours, the state rest area promotion program, the de- 

 velopment and distribution of the Rural New Hamp- 

 shire Visitors Guide, and working as part of the Timber/ 

 Agriculture/Tourism Coalition for the development 

 and distribution of the North Country Farm and Forest 

 Visitors' Guide 



• Collaboration with other agencies and organiza- 

 tions such as UNH, the Rural Development Council, 

 NH Tourism and the other New England state de- 

 partments of agriculture, to build opportunities for 

 NH agriculture within New Hampshire and regionally 



• Participation on the Eastern US Export Council to 

 encourage food and agricultural businesses from New 

 Hampshire to get into the export market 



Its been a busy year and some exciting new ef- 

 forts are on tap for |095 Anyone with questions or 

 suggestions regarding agricultural development ac- 

 tivities is encouraged to contact Gail McWilliam at 

 the Division of Agricultural Development, 271-3788. 



Gail D McVJilliam is Director of ^gricultural Development. 

 Slate oi New Hampshire Department of Agriculture. PO Box 

 2042, Concord. NH 03302-2042 



OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER IW4 



