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When you look to agriculture’s horizon 25 years from now, what do you see? That very question is being considered during a one-year process to develop an Ohio Agricultural Roadmap, according to Constance Jackson, OFBF vice president of agricultural ecology.

Sixteen of Ohio’s agricultural industry leaders formed a steering committee to lead the effort; since the initial forum last June, working groups either have or will meet to report to the steering committee, which will craft the final roadmap. By June 2005, the group aspires to have a document that will show where agriculture expects to be by 2030.

"This is an opportunity for the industry to ascertain what’s important, what we can become in 25 years, and what obstacles we may face along the way," Jackson said.

Six areas the working groups are considering are government and regulatory issues, industry versatility and agriculture’s comparative advantage, Ohio’s business climate, environment and natural resources, consumer needs and education, research and technology.

Jackson has high hopes for this process. "I understand (the groups involved) won’t agree on everything, but there are many issues on which we can reach consensus, and those will be the focus of the roadmap."