Farmers, state leaders launch statewide F.A.R.M. strategy meetings
by Lora Delhom
Farmers, researchers and regional leaders gathered in Stoneville on Dec. 11, 2025, for the first in a series of statewide strategy meetings aimed at shaping the Future of Agriculture Resiliency for Mississippi (F.A.R.M.) Strategic Plan, an initiative led by Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson.
Agriculture remains Mississippi’s largest industry and the backbone of many rural communities, Gipson said, but farmers are facing historic pressure from market volatility, rising input costs, labor shortages, health care access challenges, and barriers to entry for young and beginning farmers.
“The Delta is the epicenter of row crops,” Gipson said. “We had a very robust discussion today about not only the challenges and the problems, but also opportunities and ideas on how we can tackle these issues for the future.”
The F.A.R.M. Plan is designed to develop locally driven policies and action items to support producers, strengthen markets, protect natural resources and improve quality of life in rural Mississippi communities. Gipson has appointed a F.A.R.M. Council to gather input and develop forward-looking recommendations.
Delta farmers described the current situation as dire. Participants raised concerns about health care access, input prices, tariffs, labor costs and succession planning.
“The Delta is different from other parts of the state,” said Tallahatchie County farmer Mike Sturdivant III. “But at the end of the day, we’re all in the same boat.”
Panelists noted that many of today’s pressures stem from long-term global shifts that were underestimated for years.
The F.A.R.M. Council includes representatives from across Mississippi’s agricultural sectors, and nearly all members are farmers themselves.
Council leaders said the process is intended to be inclusive, welcoming input from producers of all sizes and regions.
Toward the end of the meeting, panelists and attendees raised broader questions about the future of rural communities, including whether decades of emphasis on economies of scale and larger farms have come at the cost of population loss. Food deserts and the challenges of meeting the needs of a changing rural economy were also discussed.
Additional F.A.R.M. meetings are scheduled for Jan. 21 in Hattiesburg, Feb. 4 in Verona, Feb. 26 in Brookhaven and March 6 in Jackson.
Public comments may also be submitted through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce website.
