Production agriculture is an important part of the North Dakota economy. North Dakota continues to work to diversify its agricultural fabric by targeting the development of value-added agriculture.
Definition of Value-Added Agriculture
Value-added agriculture is changes made to primary agriculture products (crops and livestock) that increase the product's value, thereby creating new economic activity and jobs in one of three ways:
- Process activities that create value for the product and/or introduce the product to new markets.
- Diversification and/or modification of primary agriculture products.
- Pre-production modifications that increase yields, quality and uses.
Value-added agriculture is not: on-farm production of crops and livestock; biotechnology and research and development activities focused on increasing primary agricultural production; human capital investments; agritourism; seed production; and transportation
Focus of Value-Added Agriculture
North Dakota's initial focus in this area is to develop local markets for biofuels and its co-products working in cooperation with:
- State agencies
- Commodity groups
- Livestock
- Bio-energy
- New and emerging crops
- Consultants of past projects
- Construction companies
- Engineering companies
- Investors
Value-Added Agriculture Fact Sheet
Food and Agriculture - When people think of North Dakota agriculture, they likely picture a field of golden wheat stretching in the sunshine or a dusty cowhand tending cattle and mending fences. We understand. North Dakota is part of the American West and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Agriculture is a leading industry in North Dakota, consistently ranking high in crop and livestock production. Contact your Value-added Ag Business Development Manager, Kevin Sonsalla at (701) 328-5323 to learn more.