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AURI looks to create profit opportunities for farmers

A Minnesota non-profit is developing new markets to help improve profitability for farmers.

Agricultural Utilization Research Institute executive director Shannon Schlecht says their focus is to add value and support the ag economy in the Upper Midwest.

“And I think we know a lot of that has to do with market opportunities and just helping drive demand to think about how can we utilize our crops in different ways, or think about new revenue streams that can work their way back to farmgate prices and support our producers.”

He tells Brownfield there could be fresh opportunities for farmers who diversify their operation.

“Way streams that they may not be thinking about that that we can help (validate), and thinking about different ways that we can utilize our crops. Whether they be starting in niche uses or niche opportunities, and then how do we grow that and scale that to be something larger and bigger to support the ag economy.”

Schlecht says AURI recently completed a three-year partnership with USDA’s Ag Marketing Service to develop a series of reports, briefs, and tools to aid small meat processors.