Thursday’s Tribune featured an article about the importance of agriculture to the economy of Kansas, the number of people obtaining their livelihood from some aspect of agriculture, and also focused on Barton County. Directly and indirectly, agriculture and its associated industries are responsible for employing more U.S. workers than any other industry. Also this past week, KMUW public radio featured a report on a desperate lack of help for the cattle industry in southwest Kansas which may be accessed here, kmuw.org/post/labor-starved-ag-businesses-want-keep-immigrant-workers-us-legally. The focus here is that feedyards and the industry want more immigrant labor as they can’t find enough U.S. workers. One last factor for this discussion is the unemployment rate in Kansas. It is low, quite low. However, many workers have one or more part-time jobs with no benefits while many have full-time jobs that are relatively low wage and lack benefits. Finally, as is the case in many states, a significant segment of the potential workforce has quit seeking employment. So why bring up these facts?

1. Agriculture and its related industries are a driver for the Kansas economy. It is something the State does well. It produces and sells billions of dollars of output within the U.S. and overseas but could do better. It provides the livelihoods for tens of thousands of Kansans. 

2. All sectors of the agricultural economy, particularly those sectors directly involved in production, lack qualified workers and the shortage is increasing as much of the workforce is at or near retirement age. And simply put, there are nowhere near enough young people growing up in agriculture to supply the need, even if all of them went into ag.

3. While the unemployment rate is low, many Kansans while working hard are doing so in jobs with few to no benefits, inadequate income, little job security, and little to no room for advancement based upon their position and lack of skills for advancement.

4. While the State of Kansas has promoted agriculture in general and jobs there in particular, much of the public is unaware of the career and income potential in agriculture as are many counselors in schools, particularly in larger cities. Further, there is a lack of awareness that these careers don’t require four-year degrees but in many cases only a two-year degree or shorter term certificate.

Now for the shameless plug, Kansas is fortunate to have an excellent network of community colleges and technical schools to provide traditional and nontraditional students with the skills needed for a career, not just a “job”, in agriculture. Barton Community College has certificates and two-year degrees in Crop Protection, Beef Cattle Production, Agriculture Business Management, and Scales Technician. The college constantly receives inquiries for workers in these areas and there aren’t enough students to fill them.

Finally, these types of opportunities aren’t just in agriculture but also as an automotive technician, in the natural gas industry, welding, business in general, and in medical professions. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends, please take a moment to give thanks that these opportunities exist at Barton and other two-year institutions around Kansas.

Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207.