Roundtable discussion aims to find answers on the future of farming in Southwest Michigan

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- A panel of local agricultural producers will examine the future of farming in Southwest Michigan during the roundtable discussion "From Farm to Future: Sustainable Agriculture in Berrien County.” Lake Michigan College is hosting the 90-minute conversation on Thursday, at 12:30 p.m., in rooms L310-311 on its Benton Harbor campus located at 2755 E. Napier Avenue.

One of the primary concerns for farmers in this area is giving the land a break when it is due. Tim Godfrey, Director of Wine and Viticulture Technology, says, “Over the decades, trends in farming, and really the ability for us to farm profitably in this area, has changed, and there's a there's a greater emphasis being put on environmental stewardship and understanding what the impact of agriculture is on the land."

This group of panelists plan to cover many topics of agriculture at this 90-minute round table event. The hope is to not only give farmers clarity but the community as well because there are many layers of possible impacts with the future of farming. Godfrey says, “We can put all these practices in place to help conserve the ecosystem and the environment in which we grow, but we also have to communicate that to people and have them understand and value that as well. So, the conversation is important from all angles. It's not just growing, it's also selling and marketing, and then as a consumer, it's understanding what these terms mean, and understanding the value that's associated with them.”

The hope is for the community to go and see what they are predicting, and steps they and the community will need to take in order to ensure farming can be successful in Southwest Michigan. This event also aims to create more community involvement when it comes to the future of agriculture in this area.

Godfrey explains, “Part of this conversation is not only to help the consumer make more informed choices about, you know, what they're going to spend their dollars on and support in terms of agriculture, but the other piece is to empower people to be a part of this, you know, not just from a from a buying produce perspective or buying food, but also from a perspective of, like, Hey, I've got a couple acres, maybe I could be part of this.”