Agriculture Organizations

Broaden your business exposure through agriculture organizations
By Linda C. Ray Agricultural organizations offer a slew of opportunities to put your business in position to receive positive recognition and increase sales. In addition to the members of the farm association who work within the industry in some capacity, you will have opportunities to meet and get to know other professional farm association members, including those in businesses that support farming.
 

Affiliation with agriculture trade associations provides lobbying and networking opportunities that can be immensely helpful to your own business interests, while you support the industry. Membership in farming organizations often means access to information and contacts that can be important to your own company. Regional agricultural organizations offer even more opportunities to network with local business and industry leaders in your community. Approach your membership in agriculture organizations from a variety of perspectives.

1. Expand your network through agriculture associations

2. Support the industry by participating in farming organizations

3. Stay informed with agricultural trade organizations’ publications

Develop business contacts in agriculture associations

Agriculture trade associations hold regular meetings, seminars and conventions for members and interested parties. At agriculture assn. events, as well as through various committees in which you can participate, you will have numerous occasions to socialize and network with other business people who support and work within and for the farming industry. The business leaders you meet could offer a number of trade opportunities for you and your company.
Try: The Agronomic Science Foundation is a philanthropic farm association that provides grants and scholarships to farmers and students. A world agriculture organization, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research puts you in contact with innovative farmers and scientists all over the world.

Demonstrate your interest by joining agriculture associations

If you want to do business with farmers and other farming industry businesses in any kind of capacity, you will want to show your support while building relationships with national and local leaders in the industry. You often can do this best by participating in agricultural organizations with both your presence and your financial support.
Try: American Agri-Women is a coalition of farm, ranch and agri-business women-owned businesses that is politically active in many local communities as well as on a federal level. The Crop Science Society of America is one of the larger farming organizations with 4,700 members.

Keep your company in the loop with publications from agriculture organizations

While you may not have time to participate in a trade group or volunteer on a committee, you can take advantage of membership in agricultural organizations through the myriad publications they put out. By keeping up with the reports and news in the industry, you can pick and choose which events will be most beneficial for you to attend while keeping updated on changes or news that affect professional agricultural organizations.
Try: In addition to numerous industry guides and news publications, the National Sustainable Agricultural Information Services puts on seminars and events nationwide where you can network and learn new framing practices. An active membership farming assn., the American Society of Agronomy also produces books, guides and newsletters that can keep you informed when you can’t make all the meetings.

• Join a committee in agricultural trade organizations to develop closer relationships with others who could prove helpful to your business.