1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,502 (female announcer)   Production funding   for Behind the Headlines 2 00:00:02,502 --> 00:00:04,338 is made possible in part by.. 3 00:00:04,338 --> 00:00:07,307 (male announcer)   The Bartlett Area   Chamber of Commerce 4 00:00:07,307 --> 00:00:12,346 and its member A2H - engineers,   architects and planners creating 5 00:00:12,346 --> 00:00:15,382 an enhanced quality of life   for our clients and community. 6 00:00:15,382 --> 00:00:18,485 To learn more about   A2H's services and markets, 7 00:00:18,485 --> 00:00:23,490 visit A2H.com. 8 00:00:31,331 --> 00:00:34,301 - The economic impact of the Agricenter tonight 9 00:00:34,301 --> 00:00:35,802 on Behind the Headlines. 10 00:00:35,802 --> 00:00:42,809 [theme music] 11 00:00:52,653 --> 00:00:54,254 I'm Eric Barnes, publisher of the Memphis Daily News. 12 00:00:54,254 --> 00:00:55,422 Thanks for joining us. 13 00:00:55,422 --> 00:00:57,424 I'm joined tonight by John Butler, 14 00:00:57,424 --> 00:00:59,426 the new president of the   Agricenter International. 15 00:00:59,426 --> 00:01:00,427 Thanks for being here. 16 00:01:00,427 --> 00:01:01,428 - Thanks for having me. 17 00:01:01,428 --> 00:01:03,430 (Eric)   Along with Bill Dries,   senior reporter 18 00:01:03,430 --> 00:01:04,431 with The Memphis Daily News. 19 00:01:04,431 --> 00:01:06,433 So, you have just taken the job. 20 00:01:06,433 --> 00:01:08,435 You've been on the board I think you told me for some time. 21 00:01:08,435 --> 00:01:10,871 But just talk about your goals and we'll dig into what the 22 00:01:10,871 --> 00:01:12,873 Agricenter does, where it's been, 23 00:01:12,873 --> 00:01:13,874 where it's going. 24 00:01:13,874 --> 00:01:15,876 But as the new president, what are your goals? 25 00:01:15,876 --> 00:01:16,877 - You bet. 26 00:01:16,877 --> 00:01:18,879 I'd first like to tell you a little bit about my background. 27 00:01:18,879 --> 00:01:21,748 Originally I'm from a fifth generation family farmer from 28 00:01:21,748 --> 00:01:25,485 Dyer County and always had a passion for ag literacy and the 29 00:01:25,485 --> 00:01:28,956 things that kind of encompass our goal and our mission 30 00:01:28,956 --> 00:01:32,025 statement there as somebody's involved with the ag culture on 31 00:01:32,025 --> 00:01:33,193 a daily basis. 32 00:01:33,193 --> 00:01:36,063 When I kind of looked at this job in the very beginning, 33 00:01:36,063 --> 00:01:39,599 I loved the mission statement of trying to improve the quality of 34 00:01:39,599 --> 00:01:42,302 life of the citizens of Shelby County through economic 35 00:01:42,302 --> 00:01:45,138 development, ag research, ag production, 36 00:01:45,138 --> 00:01:49,009 and natural soils and conservation efforts. 37 00:01:49,009 --> 00:01:53,947 When you look at what Agricenter does on just a daily basis, 38 00:01:53,947 --> 00:01:57,818 it's really a hidden jewel for the community and certaily for 39 00:01:57,818 --> 00:01:59,186 economic development. 40 00:01:59,186 --> 00:02:01,722 - Yeah, I didn't realize until I was getting ready to do the show 41 00:02:01,722 --> 00:02:03,724 and we're written about the Agricenter and I've been there 42 00:02:03,724 --> 00:02:05,926 and all that but you guys had a study done a year ago, 43 00:02:05,926 --> 00:02:08,228 $524 million impact. 44 00:02:08,228 --> 00:02:11,231 I mean, the number of jobs, the kind of range of what's going on 45 00:02:11,231 --> 00:02:13,333 there was really striking to me actually. 46 00:02:13,333 --> 00:02:14,334 - Absolutely. 47 00:02:14,334 --> 00:02:16,470 When you look at not only what we do individually but also 48 00:02:16,470 --> 00:02:19,439 collectively in our relationship to all the tenants on our 49 00:02:19,439 --> 00:02:20,440 property. 50 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,442 You look at Bayer, Helena, Case. 51 00:02:22,442 --> 00:02:25,312 We're one of the two locations that Case does all their 52 00:02:25,312 --> 00:02:26,313 training program. 53 00:02:26,313 --> 00:02:28,648 - Case being the tractor and heavy equipment and so on. 54 00:02:28,648 --> 00:02:29,650 - Absolutely. 55 00:02:29,650 --> 00:02:31,918 Case is currently owned by Fiat. 56 00:02:31,918 --> 00:02:36,590 But they're a major player in ag equipment manufacturing. 57 00:02:36,590 --> 00:02:38,959 And they have one of their two training facilities here in 58 00:02:38,959 --> 00:02:40,961 Memphis, Tennessee at Agricenter. 59 00:02:40,961 --> 00:02:43,430 So, we're super happy to have that partnership. 60 00:02:43,430 --> 00:02:45,632 When you look at the overall economic development, 61 00:02:45,632 --> 00:02:48,635 as you said, it's $524 million annually. 62 00:02:48,635 --> 00:02:54,708 It's over 2500 jobs directly and indirectly and over $4.7 million 63 00:02:54,708 --> 00:02:57,310 of tax revenue that's generated off our events there. 64 00:02:57,310 --> 00:02:59,746 - I'll bring Bill in a second. 65 00:02:59,746 --> 00:03:03,050 You talk about Case, you know, big corporate international 66 00:03:03,050 --> 00:03:04,051 company. 67 00:03:04,051 --> 00:03:07,854 Bayer, the pharmaceutical and fertilizer and so on and so 68 00:03:07,854 --> 00:03:08,855 forth kind of company. 69 00:03:08,855 --> 00:03:10,857 But also, you guys do a lot of work with small scale things. 70 00:03:10,857 --> 00:03:12,859 You have, what, one of the oldest, 71 00:03:12,859 --> 00:03:15,429 if not the oldest, farmer's market in Shelby County I think. 72 00:03:15,429 --> 00:03:16,430 And a lot of working.. 73 00:03:16,430 --> 00:03:18,432 You have a master gardener program through UT. 74 00:03:18,432 --> 00:03:19,433 I mean, right? 75 00:03:19,433 --> 00:03:21,435 So, talk some about the small scale more individualized kind 76 00:03:21,435 --> 00:03:23,703 of things you do as well. 77 00:03:23,703 --> 00:03:24,704 - Sure. 78 00:03:24,704 --> 00:03:26,706 Well, you mentioned our farmer's market. 79 00:03:26,706 --> 00:03:28,709 We're very proud to have one of   the oldest continuous farmer's 80 00:03:28,709 --> 00:03:30,343 market in West Tennessee. 81 00:03:30,343 --> 00:03:32,345 I don't know, Bill, if you've   been out there or not 82 00:03:32,345 --> 00:03:33,346 but it's really amazing. 83 00:03:33,346 --> 00:03:35,949 A lot of wide variety of fruits and vegetables. 84 00:03:35,949 --> 00:03:39,419 It's open six days a week, which is kind of unusual for a 85 00:03:39,419 --> 00:03:40,420 farmer's market. 86 00:03:40,420 --> 00:03:42,422 A lot of times they just open on the weekend. 87 00:03:42,422 --> 00:03:43,423 We're open six days a week. 88 00:03:43,423 --> 00:03:46,426 And you can find just hundreds of people come there for fresh 89 00:03:46,426 --> 00:03:49,362 fruits and also for seafood as well. 90 00:03:49,362 --> 00:03:54,634 So, we're really glad to have them there as a partner. 91 00:03:54,634 --> 00:03:55,635 - Bill? 92 00:03:55,635 --> 00:03:59,639 - And you talked about your family's farming experience. 93 00:03:59,639 --> 00:04:03,877 And I think that so often we talk about regionalism as a new 94 00:04:03,877 --> 00:04:06,546 concept in business. 95 00:04:06,546 --> 00:04:10,317 Actually, it's been around since there's been a Memphis and 96 00:04:10,317 --> 00:04:13,920 probably before that in that regard. 97 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,922 And a lot of people don't understand that, I think. 98 00:04:15,922 --> 00:04:17,924 I mean, Memphis has always been a cotton center. 99 00:04:17,924 --> 00:04:19,926 For instance, we were where the cotton came from. 100 00:04:19,926 --> 00:04:21,928 But it was grown all around us and in Shelby County as well. 101 00:04:21,928 --> 00:04:23,930 So, talk a little bit about how this demonstrates kind of the 102 00:04:23,930 --> 00:04:24,931 reach of agriculture. 103 00:04:24,931 --> 00:04:26,933 The agriculture is a big business here but it's also a 104 00:04:26,933 --> 00:04:28,935 family business in a lot of ways, as well. 105 00:04:28,935 --> 00:04:29,936 - It is, it is. 106 00:04:29,936 --> 00:04:31,938 If I could just for a minute, I'm sure most of your viewers 107 00:04:31,938 --> 00:04:33,940 understand how important the Delta and the Mid-South region 108 00:04:33,940 --> 00:04:38,945 is to that ag ecosystem. 109 00:04:48,922 --> 00:04:53,560 But we're really positioned amazingly where some of the best 110 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,962 soils in the nation are at. 111 00:04:55,962 --> 00:04:58,799 So, from the Delta or the Mid-South region, 112 00:04:58,799 --> 00:05:01,501 you can almost grow anything here from peanuts, 113 00:05:01,501 --> 00:05:03,637 to rice, to soy beans, to cotton. 114 00:05:03,637 --> 00:05:07,307 You can even look at some of the new crops that are coming out. 115 00:05:07,307 --> 00:05:10,677 It's really amazing, the diversity of our ecosystem and 116 00:05:10,677 --> 00:05:12,679 the things we're able to do here. 117 00:05:12,679 --> 00:05:15,348 So, when you look at having an ag research station here in the 118 00:05:15,348 --> 00:05:19,452 Delta, it's really a great compliment to the community. 119 00:05:19,452 --> 00:05:21,922 And then when you look at all the other players that are here 120 00:05:21,922 --> 00:05:23,924 from an ag investment standpoint, 121 00:05:23,924 --> 00:05:24,925 you have the Cargills. 122 00:05:24,925 --> 00:05:25,926 You have ADM. 123 00:05:25,926 --> 00:05:27,928 You have Bayer and Helena   obviously at our campus. 124 00:05:27,928 --> 00:05:28,929 You have Case. 125 00:05:28,929 --> 00:05:29,930 You have John Deere. 126 00:05:29,930 --> 00:05:32,866 You have several of the major companies that position not only 127 00:05:32,866 --> 00:05:36,603 in the region nationally but also worldwide right here in the 128 00:05:36,603 --> 00:05:37,704 Mid-South area. 129 00:05:37,704 --> 00:05:40,974 So, it's a natural kind of a melting pot from an ag 130 00:05:40,974 --> 00:05:42,242 standpoint. 131 00:05:42,242 --> 00:05:47,948 - So, for a farmer, what is the technology like in this business 132 00:05:47,948 --> 00:05:48,949 these days. 133 00:05:48,949 --> 00:05:50,517 You have precision agriculture. 134 00:05:50,517 --> 00:05:51,785 You have.. 135 00:05:51,785 --> 00:05:55,622 You have a lot of technology and you have a lot of changes over a 136 00:05:55,622 --> 00:05:57,224 pretty short period of time. 137 00:05:57,224 --> 00:05:59,226 - Yeah, it's pretty amazing when you sit down and talk. 138 00:05:59,226 --> 00:06:03,029 Like my father, he grew up on our family farm and he actually 139 00:06:03,029 --> 00:06:04,731 picked cotton by hand. 140 00:06:04,731 --> 00:06:07,367 I'm the first generation of our family that didn't have to do a 141 00:06:07,367 --> 00:06:08,368 lot of that manual labor. 142 00:06:08,368 --> 00:06:11,771 So, luckily for me, I got the chance to sit in some pretty 143 00:06:11,771 --> 00:06:14,341 nice tractors and kind of transition a little bit of an 144 00:06:14,341 --> 00:06:15,809 easier lifestyle I guess. 145 00:06:15,809 --> 00:06:16,977 It's still long hours. 146 00:06:16,977 --> 00:06:18,678 It's still very dedicated. 147 00:06:18,678 --> 00:06:21,481 But when you look at how technology has really 148 00:06:21,481 --> 00:06:24,484 revolutionized the ag industry   over the last 20 to 30 years, 149 00:06:24,484 --> 00:06:25,719 it's pretty amazing. 150 00:06:25,719 --> 00:06:28,622 We've got, you know, pivots that   basically bring water to our 151 00:06:28,622 --> 00:06:32,158 crop also with   fertilizer and other nutrients. 152 00:06:32,158 --> 00:06:37,097 We've got GPS tracking that   helps as we spray our chemicals 153 00:06:37,097 --> 00:06:40,100 on our corps to make sure we do a very efficient job of not 154 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:42,335 overlapping or anything and utilizing that. 155 00:06:42,335 --> 00:06:44,371 - And all that is available to small farmers, too. 156 00:06:44,371 --> 00:06:45,372 - Absolutely. 157 00:06:45,372 --> 00:06:46,373 I'm actually a small farmer. 158 00:06:46,373 --> 00:06:49,342 Our family business is not that large when you look at it. 159 00:06:49,342 --> 00:06:51,478 We're proud of what we've accomplished 160 00:06:51,478 --> 00:06:52,545 over the last several years. 161 00:06:52,545 --> 00:06:55,181 But still, we farm just a few thousand acres. 162 00:06:55,181 --> 00:06:56,283 And we're not, you know.. 163 00:06:56,283 --> 00:06:58,718 A lot of people say, well, you farm thousands of acres, 164 00:06:58,718 --> 00:07:00,720 you're a corporate farmer, whatever. 165 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,722 But, you know, if you talk to my father or, 166 00:07:02,722 --> 00:07:04,891 you know, my grandfather was still alive, or.. 167 00:07:04,891 --> 00:07:08,595 I turned the business over to my sons when I left to come up here 168 00:07:08,595 --> 00:07:09,596 to Agricenter. 169 00:07:09,596 --> 00:07:11,965 So, we're truly a family business. 170 00:07:11,965 --> 00:07:13,967 And we've been around the community for a long, 171 00:07:13,967 --> 00:07:16,236 long time and we're certainly proud of our heritage. 172 00:07:16,236 --> 00:07:17,604 - How does all that.. 173 00:07:17,604 --> 00:07:20,940 When you talk about the technology and intersect with 174 00:07:20,940 --> 00:07:21,941 just as a consumer. 175 00:07:21,941 --> 00:07:22,942 So, I'm not a farmer. 176 00:07:22,942 --> 00:07:24,010 I've been on farms. 177 00:07:24,010 --> 00:07:25,945 But I'm not a farmer obviously. 178 00:07:25,945 --> 00:07:29,015 But all this organic food, the farm-to-table, 179 00:07:29,015 --> 00:07:31,951 the locally sourced food, how does that kind of.. 180 00:07:31,951 --> 00:07:35,855 What sounds like really sophisticated and very expensive 181 00:07:35,855 --> 00:07:39,693 technology, how does that jive with this idea of locally grown 182 00:07:39,693 --> 00:07:42,562 tomatoes and locally sourced cattle and so on and so forth? 183 00:07:42,562 --> 00:07:45,932 - Well, as a producer, I love that story. 184 00:07:45,932 --> 00:07:48,702 I really think that's, from an agriculture perspective, 185 00:07:48,702 --> 00:07:50,904 that's how we make the next transition. 186 00:07:50,904 --> 00:07:53,406 We've always preached ag literacy. 187 00:07:53,406 --> 00:07:56,042 You know, the knowledge of knowing where your food and 188 00:07:56,042 --> 00:07:57,043 fiber comes from. 189 00:07:57,043 --> 00:07:59,646 But the concept of all this local movement, 190 00:07:59,646 --> 00:08:00,714 especially here in Memphis. 191 00:08:00,714 --> 00:08:02,716 I mean, this is a great food town. 192 00:08:02,716 --> 00:08:04,718 We're known for our BBQ and our blues. 193 00:08:04,718 --> 00:08:07,187 But my goodness, it's got such a great story past that. 194 00:08:07,187 --> 00:08:10,690 But when you look at trying to understand and really kind of 195 00:08:10,690 --> 00:08:13,727 bring those folks into what we call our ag pitcher, 196 00:08:13,727 --> 00:08:17,731 it's really a great, great what I call the perfect storm. 197 00:08:17,731 --> 00:08:20,200 Because all this interest is just coming up over the last 198 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:21,334 couple of years. 199 00:08:21,334 --> 00:08:23,770 And people are very interested in where their food 200 00:08:23,770 --> 00:08:24,771 and fiber comes from. 201 00:08:24,771 --> 00:08:27,440 That's why we have such a great interest in our farmer's market. 202 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,642 And you'll notice it's not just there at Agricenter. 203 00:08:29,642 --> 00:08:32,145 There's farmer's markets all over the community that are 204 00:08:32,145 --> 00:08:33,580 extremely successful. 205 00:08:33,580 --> 00:08:34,581 - How does all that and.. 206 00:08:34,581 --> 00:08:37,217 So, you do a whole lot of education programs with kids, 207 00:08:37,217 --> 00:08:38,218 high school kids. 208 00:08:38,218 --> 00:08:40,653 Talk about those education programs and again, 209 00:08:40,653 --> 00:08:42,255 excuse me, ag literacy. 210 00:08:42,255 --> 00:08:43,723 What do you do with the kids? 211 00:08:43,723 --> 00:08:44,724 - You bet. 212 00:08:44,724 --> 00:08:46,726 Well, we have a great partnership with the University 213 00:08:46,726 --> 00:08:47,727 of Tennessee Extension. 214 00:08:47,727 --> 00:08:50,597 And we also work very closely with a lot of youth 215 00:08:50,597 --> 00:08:53,199 organizations like 4-H for example. 216 00:08:53,199 --> 00:08:57,203 And we have our educator on staff basically deals with 217 00:08:57,203 --> 00:09:00,774 somewhere between four and   five-thousand kids every year. 218 00:09:00,774 --> 00:09:05,645 About 85 different schools from   around the community come in. 219 00:09:05,645 --> 00:09:07,514 We actually have   bussing scholarships. 220 00:09:07,514 --> 00:09:09,582 They're not out anything. 221 00:09:09,582 --> 00:09:13,520 So, there's no excuse for a   teacher or a principal or a 222 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,923 superintendent not to have their   kids at our campus this year 223 00:09:16,923 --> 00:09:18,458 at Agricenter International. 224 00:09:18,458 --> 00:09:19,726 - And I'll go to Bill in a second but, 225 00:09:19,726 --> 00:09:21,728 you know, there's such this focus on childhood obesity 226 00:09:21,728 --> 00:09:23,096 and adult obesity. 227 00:09:23,096 --> 00:09:24,697 I mean, it's not a Memphis thing. 228 00:09:24,697 --> 00:09:26,099 It is a national problem. 229 00:09:26,099 --> 00:09:28,601 And it gets back to food and education on that. 230 00:09:28,601 --> 00:09:31,070 Is that part of the education program with the kids is 231 00:09:31,070 --> 00:09:32,405 nutrition and so on? 232 00:09:32,405 --> 00:09:33,406 It is? 233 00:09:33,406 --> 00:09:34,407 - Yes. 234 00:09:34,407 --> 00:09:36,910 When you look at some of the social challenges we have here, 235 00:09:36,910 --> 00:09:39,279 it's not just the Mid-South region but certainly we have 236 00:09:39,279 --> 00:09:40,547 to be aware of. 237 00:09:40,547 --> 00:09:43,516 We more or less lead the nation in some of those issues that are 238 00:09:43,516 --> 00:09:45,518 extremely concerning and alarming. 239 00:09:45,518 --> 00:09:48,988 I think part of the local food movement is as we transition our 240 00:09:48,988 --> 00:09:51,658 self to where that food and fiber comes from, 241 00:09:51,658 --> 00:09:54,694 we understand that maybe the health associated 242 00:09:54,694 --> 00:09:55,695 with that as well. 243 00:09:55,695 --> 00:10:00,834 And hopefully as it works down from adults to youth then it's 244 00:10:00,834 --> 00:10:03,002 just that natural transition happens. 245 00:10:03,002 --> 00:10:04,003 Well, yeah. 246 00:10:04,003 --> 00:10:06,005 Sure, maybe I'll grab the banana instead of the bag of chips. 247 00:10:06,005 --> 00:10:12,912 - So, how much of the research that's underway at Agricenter 248 00:10:12,912 --> 00:10:18,051 deals with this whole question and even a controversy in some 249 00:10:18,051 --> 00:10:24,290 discussions about agriculture as an energy source versus a food 250 00:10:24,290 --> 00:10:28,695 source, particularly with corn. 251 00:10:28,695 --> 00:10:30,563 - You bet. 252 00:10:30,563 --> 00:10:32,632 Well, first off, all of our research.. 253 00:10:32,632 --> 00:10:36,302 We have over 11,000 replicated plots this year dedicated just 254 00:10:36,302 --> 00:10:39,472 to ag research and how that involves not only technology but 255 00:10:39,472 --> 00:10:44,110 plant physiology and also as it relates to our environment. 256 00:10:44,110 --> 00:10:48,615 We're very in tuned, those of us that are involved in ag issues, 257 00:10:48,615 --> 00:10:52,085 about how the general consumer views what we're doing. 258 00:10:52,085 --> 00:10:54,187 So, we're certainly aware that there's a disconnect. 259 00:10:54,187 --> 00:10:56,189 And that disconnect has not happened 260 00:10:56,189 --> 00:10:57,190 over the last five years. 261 00:10:57,190 --> 00:10:59,192 That disconnect has come around as, 262 00:10:59,192 --> 00:11:01,494 for instance, more and more people have been disassociated 263 00:11:01,494 --> 00:11:02,495 from the farm. 264 00:11:02,495 --> 00:11:05,498 So, most folks are five to four generations removed from 265 00:11:05,498 --> 00:11:07,500 actually farming the land themselves. 266 00:11:07,500 --> 00:11:10,103 So, it's a different technology, a different phrasing. 267 00:11:10,103 --> 00:11:12,272 You know, for instance, I can talk about some of the things 268 00:11:12,272 --> 00:11:14,674 I'm very used to but maybe it's different for you and you've 269 00:11:14,674 --> 00:11:15,942 never heard of those words. 270 00:11:15,942 --> 00:11:19,245 The point is we have to have a relationship and a conversation 271 00:11:19,245 --> 00:11:22,315 with people that are based on the health of the products 272 00:11:22,315 --> 00:11:23,316 we're producing. 273 00:11:23,316 --> 00:11:25,485 We're not only producing it for you and your family but 274 00:11:25,485 --> 00:11:27,487 producing it for our family, as well. 275 00:11:27,487 --> 00:11:30,823 Now when you look at the food versus fuel issue basically as 276 00:11:30,823 --> 00:11:32,825 it involves corn and corn ethanol, 277 00:11:32,825 --> 00:11:37,830 it's a very centric argument that I think came about because 278 00:11:40,733 --> 00:11:44,971 people were trying to find how they can divide or create a 279 00:11:44,971 --> 00:11:46,973 difference within the ag community. 280 00:11:46,973 --> 00:11:48,975 And I've always related it to this. 281 00:11:48,975 --> 00:11:49,976 It's very simple. 282 00:11:49,976 --> 00:11:51,978 It's an issue of national security. 283 00:11:51,978 --> 00:11:54,047 Would you rather have your fuel, you know, 284 00:11:54,047 --> 00:11:56,816 grown and pumped out of the ground in a petroleum product 285 00:11:56,816 --> 00:11:58,985 and shipped over here or rather have it raised 286 00:11:58,985 --> 00:12:00,286 by your own neighbors? 287 00:12:00,286 --> 00:12:03,156 And I love the fact that we're raising corn that's going into 288 00:12:03,156 --> 00:12:04,157 the ethanol industry. 289 00:12:04,157 --> 00:12:06,159 And also, soy beans in bio diesel. 290 00:12:06,159 --> 00:12:09,128 I think those are great wins for us basically from a standpoint 291 00:12:09,128 --> 00:12:12,532 of national security, from a standpoint of being more 292 00:12:12,532 --> 00:12:14,734 environmentally friendly to the environment. 293 00:12:14,734 --> 00:12:17,971 We have less greenhouse gases related to biofuels as opposed 294 00:12:17,971 --> 00:12:19,439 to petroleum based products. 295 00:12:19,439 --> 00:12:20,873 I think it's a huge win for us. 296 00:12:20,873 --> 00:12:22,609 - Are biofuels stabilizing? 297 00:12:22,609 --> 00:12:26,779 Because not too many years ago, we saw a cycle where when gas 298 00:12:26,779 --> 00:12:28,781 prices went up, biofuel enterprises did very well. 299 00:12:28,781 --> 00:12:33,786 When the prices dropped, they didn't so well. 300 00:12:37,056 --> 00:12:38,057 - Sure. 301 00:12:38,057 --> 00:12:40,059 When you look at the cost of, like, 302 00:12:40,059 --> 00:12:42,061 raw oil, I think it's about $42 a barrel or $42 a barrel 303 00:12:42,061 --> 00:12:43,062 right now. 304 00:12:43,062 --> 00:12:45,064 I mean, obviously that's created a crunch 305 00:12:45,064 --> 00:12:46,065 to the ethanol industry. 306 00:12:46,065 --> 00:12:48,768 But in all industries, it's cyclical. 307 00:12:48,768 --> 00:12:51,270 And so, you have to be able to kind of live with the downturns 308 00:12:51,270 --> 00:12:52,272 as well as the upturns. 309 00:12:52,272 --> 00:12:54,707 I mean, you look at the margins in the ethanol industry, 310 00:12:54,707 --> 00:12:56,576 you know, they're making it. 311 00:12:56,576 --> 00:12:58,578 It's tough on them but they're making it. 312 00:12:58,578 --> 00:13:01,547 When you look at how we relate from the industry perspective to 313 00:13:01,547 --> 00:13:04,350 the national, like the RFS, which is the standard the EPA 314 00:13:04,350 --> 00:13:07,420 issues to meet with the blend wall, 315 00:13:07,420 --> 00:13:10,723 we've been able to meet that as an industry and we're certainly 316 00:13:10,723 --> 00:13:13,026 proud that, you know, from our standpoint, 317 00:13:13,026 --> 00:13:15,028 we've been able to do it. 318 00:13:15,028 --> 00:13:18,031 From an economic standpoint, it's not been that beneficial 319 00:13:18,031 --> 00:13:19,799 the last two or three years. 320 00:13:19,799 --> 00:13:22,402 Obviously a lot of us that, you know, 321 00:13:22,402 --> 00:13:25,204 drive cars and trucks love the fact that gas is cheaper than 322 00:13:25,204 --> 00:13:27,206 what it was, you know, three years ago. 323 00:13:27,206 --> 00:13:29,709 So, that's certainly a benefit for us. 324 00:13:29,709 --> 00:13:31,911 - You talk about energy and energy independence. 325 00:13:31,911 --> 00:13:35,415 You've got a solar farm, not a huge one but a sizeable solar 326 00:13:35,415 --> 00:13:37,717 farm out there that went in in the last year or two. 327 00:13:37,717 --> 00:13:38,718 How long has it been? 328 00:13:38,718 --> 00:13:40,720 - I think it's about four or five years ago. 329 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:41,788 - I have no sense of time. 330 00:13:41,788 --> 00:13:43,790 What's the importance of that or what's it do? 331 00:13:43,790 --> 00:13:46,559 Is that electricity you use on site? 332 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:47,593 How is it used? 333 00:13:47,593 --> 00:13:48,594 - No. 334 00:13:48,594 --> 00:13:50,596 Well, actually that electricity is generated 335 00:13:50,596 --> 00:13:52,331 and hits the TVA grid. 336 00:13:52,331 --> 00:13:57,336 It's a whole different form of   adaptation of the solar energy 337 00:14:00,073 --> 00:14:02,075 itself trying to use it on site. 338 00:14:02,075 --> 00:14:04,077 So, for us, it's better for us to hit the grid. 339 00:14:04,077 --> 00:14:06,079 We're right there about a hundred yards from where we can 340 00:14:06,079 --> 00:14:07,080 hit the grid. 341 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,615 It makes really great sense for us to hit the grid. 342 00:14:09,615 --> 00:14:11,551 But it makes us energy neutral. 343 00:14:11,551 --> 00:14:13,920 And that's the point that we like to tell is that. 344 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:15,922 And I want to say something else. 345 00:14:15,922 --> 00:14:18,725 The man that's just retired, John Charles Wilson, 346 00:14:18,725 --> 00:14:21,661 basically put a lot of these programs I'm here talking about. 347 00:14:21,661 --> 00:14:23,963 You know, I'm talking about them but he actually did all the work 348 00:14:23,963 --> 00:14:24,964 to make it happen. 349 00:14:24,964 --> 00:14:27,934 So, I want to make sure we acknowledge all the hard work 350 00:14:27,934 --> 00:14:30,803 and effort he's done. 351 00:14:30,803 --> 00:14:33,573 - You talked about greenhouse gases. 352 00:14:33,573 --> 00:14:35,975 Do you always study climate change, 353 00:14:35,975 --> 00:14:37,977 droughts around the country and so on? 354 00:14:37,977 --> 00:14:42,482 I mean, this sort of change in climate and the impact that has 355 00:14:42,482 --> 00:14:45,752 on agriculture, does that play into your research into what 356 00:14:45,752 --> 00:14:47,320 you're doing at the Agricenter? 357 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:51,057 - You know, a lot of our research is based on how the 358 00:14:51,057 --> 00:14:53,226 crops deal with, you know, moisture issues, 359 00:14:53,226 --> 00:14:54,227 drought tolerance. 360 00:14:54,227 --> 00:14:56,329 Here in the Southeast, we have, you know, 361 00:14:56,329 --> 00:14:59,732 extreme conditions with not only the heat but also lack of 362 00:14:59,732 --> 00:15:02,635 moisture, especially during the July - August timeframe. 363 00:15:02,635 --> 00:15:04,804 You know, last week we had heat indexes over 364 00:15:04,804 --> 00:15:07,540 over 110 and 115. 365 00:15:07,540 --> 00:15:10,810 So, that certainly has an effect not only on the crop but also 366 00:15:10,810 --> 00:15:12,812 the animals that are in farmers' care all over the Delta region. 367 00:15:12,812 --> 00:15:14,147 So, yes, we look at that. 368 00:15:14,147 --> 00:15:18,451 More I think to the point, we look at more.. 369 00:15:18,451 --> 00:15:22,121 As far as climate change, we look at some of the macro issues 370 00:15:22,121 --> 00:15:26,225 like where there's El Nino and how those affect not only the 371 00:15:26,225 --> 00:15:28,227 Mid-South but also the Mid-West. 372 00:15:28,227 --> 00:15:29,228 - Bill? 373 00:15:29,228 --> 00:15:34,467 - In working with farmers on yield, 374 00:15:34,467 --> 00:15:39,472 is the goal always the maximum yield or is the goal a more 375 00:15:39,472 --> 00:15:42,275 strategic kind of yield? 376 00:15:42,275 --> 00:15:43,676 - That's a great question. 377 00:15:43,676 --> 00:15:45,678 Actually, I'm not sure if I know the answer to it. 378 00:15:45,678 --> 00:15:47,780 But I can tell you as a producer, 379 00:15:47,780 --> 00:15:49,949 it's all about, you know, producing volume. 380 00:15:49,949 --> 00:15:52,852 But it has to be done at a managed level not only from an 381 00:15:52,852 --> 00:15:54,854 input standpoint but from a resource, 382 00:15:54,854 --> 00:15:56,856 you know, an accountability standpoint. 383 00:15:56,856 --> 00:15:59,458 So, for instance, it can't just be about yield. 384 00:15:59,458 --> 00:16:01,460 It has to be about how it relates 385 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:02,929 to the local environment. 386 00:16:02,929 --> 00:16:05,331 For instance, one of the things I just went to yesterday was the 387 00:16:05,331 --> 00:16:06,332 Milan No Till Day. 388 00:16:06,332 --> 00:16:09,335 It's no 29th year of the Milan No Till Day which basically 389 00:16:09,335 --> 00:16:11,337 revolutionized agriculture production here 390 00:16:11,337 --> 00:16:12,338 in the Mid-South region. 391 00:16:12,338 --> 00:16:13,840 - Explain that a little more. 392 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,442 - Back in my father's day and grandfather's day, 393 00:16:16,442 --> 00:16:18,711 we were tilling the land up significantly. 394 00:16:18,711 --> 00:16:23,549 And so, we had over 20 tons of acre erosion annually in some of 395 00:16:23,549 --> 00:16:26,385 our really silt soils here in West Tennessee. 396 00:16:26,385 --> 00:16:28,387 - Erosion, just to the layman, me, 397 00:16:28,387 --> 00:16:31,724 that just means you're tilling it up and then there's maybe a 398 00:16:31,724 --> 00:16:32,892 rain or there's wind. 399 00:16:32,892 --> 00:16:35,561 So much of that good, valuable soil goes away 400 00:16:35,561 --> 00:16:37,029 and it's very inefficient. 401 00:16:37,029 --> 00:16:39,098 - It takes years, and years, and years, 402 00:16:39,098 --> 00:16:41,534 almost a generation to build that soil back. 403 00:16:41,534 --> 00:16:44,904 So, over the last 15, 20 years, we've identified that from a 404 00:16:44,904 --> 00:16:48,908 practical standpoint, if we basically change what we had 405 00:16:48,908 --> 00:16:50,910 thought was the way to do things and went 406 00:16:50,910 --> 00:16:51,911 to no more till practices. 407 00:16:51,911 --> 00:16:53,913 So, we don't till the soil up at all. 408 00:16:53,913 --> 00:16:57,984 We basically go in and we'll spray it and we just no till it. 409 00:16:57,984 --> 00:16:59,085 - Is the industry.. 410 00:16:59,085 --> 00:17:01,087 I mean, farmers of various sizes.. 411 00:17:01,087 --> 00:17:03,089 I mean, are they open to all this change? 412 00:17:03,089 --> 00:17:06,626 Because there's a stereotype of.. 413 00:17:06,626 --> 00:17:08,261 Maybe it's just my stereotype. 414 00:17:08,261 --> 00:17:11,163 Of farmers being maybe resistant to change somehow, 415 00:17:11,163 --> 00:17:14,233 that being a kind of old school industry that doesn't involve a 416 00:17:14,233 --> 00:17:15,268 lot of innovation. 417 00:17:15,268 --> 00:17:17,436 But you're describing an entirely different world. 418 00:17:17,436 --> 00:17:19,438 - Farmers lead the innovation, I think, 419 00:17:19,438 --> 00:17:20,940 across the country. 420 00:17:20,940 --> 00:17:25,611 Most of us have either BS or advanced degrees in some type of 421 00:17:25,611 --> 00:17:28,547 science or animal degrees and we have.. 422 00:17:28,547 --> 00:17:30,549 We're basically inner science nerds, you know. 423 00:17:30,549 --> 00:17:33,853 So, we're all about trying to figure out how to do it better. 424 00:17:33,853 --> 00:17:35,955 And it involves not only technology but also, 425 00:17:35,955 --> 00:17:36,956 different practices. 426 00:17:36,956 --> 00:17:38,057 No till is one of those. 427 00:17:38,057 --> 00:17:40,726 No till has been around for 20 or 30 years. 428 00:17:40,726 --> 00:17:42,728 It's not necessarily a new revolution. 429 00:17:42,728 --> 00:17:45,731 But some of the things we're doing with it as far as cover 430 00:17:45,731 --> 00:17:46,732 crops is new. 431 00:17:46,732 --> 00:17:49,635 That's about a five to seven year transition. 432 00:17:49,635 --> 00:17:51,971 We're using cover crops to basically control weeds. 433 00:17:51,971 --> 00:17:52,972 (Eric)   What's a cover crop? 434 00:17:52,972 --> 00:17:57,076 - We'll plant weeds in the late fall or early spring, 435 00:17:57,076 --> 00:18:00,713 like rye, clover, like legumes that help fix nitrogen. 436 00:18:00,713 --> 00:18:05,017 And all those things are done through the plants themselves as 437 00:18:05,017 --> 00:18:10,489 opposed to us having to apply chemicals or other pesticides 438 00:18:10,489 --> 00:18:14,860 and also man-made petroleum fertilizers. 439 00:18:14,860 --> 00:18:16,362 So, it's done naturally. 440 00:18:16,362 --> 00:18:22,601 - So, what are the immediate goals on the horizon for 441 00:18:22,601 --> 00:18:23,603 Agricenter? 442 00:18:23,603 --> 00:18:24,604 - That's a great question. 443 00:18:24,604 --> 00:18:26,606 As we look at the local food movement, 444 00:18:26,606 --> 00:18:28,908 we've got a great interest in trying to move into more 445 00:18:28,908 --> 00:18:30,876 of organic research. 446 00:18:30,876 --> 00:18:32,878 We really think it's a great opportunity. 447 00:18:32,878 --> 00:18:35,081 And not that I'm here to say organic is the answer. 448 00:18:35,081 --> 00:18:38,484 I think organic is a component of what we do in agriculture. 449 00:18:38,484 --> 00:18:40,486 Obviously I'm a traditional farmer. 450 00:18:40,486 --> 00:18:41,620 So, I have GMO crops. 451 00:18:41,620 --> 00:18:43,556 I have traditional crops. 452 00:18:43,556 --> 00:18:46,459 I just think organic, especially here in the Mid-South region, 453 00:18:46,459 --> 00:18:48,995 is something that we want to kind of look at. 454 00:18:48,995 --> 00:18:51,330 We think as it works into our research farm, 455 00:18:51,330 --> 00:18:55,034 it would be really neat to have side by side comparisons of how 456 00:18:55,034 --> 00:18:58,004 organics actually compare to traditional crops. 457 00:18:58,004 --> 00:19:00,006 So, we think it's really interesting 458 00:19:00,006 --> 00:19:01,640 from a research perspective. 459 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,210 - So, what is Agricenter's relationship 460 00:19:04,210 --> 00:19:05,745 with Shelby Farms Park? 461 00:19:05,745 --> 00:19:08,981 There's a whole lot of change going on on the other side of 462 00:19:08,981 --> 00:19:11,884 Walnut Grove as well as your side. 463 00:19:11,884 --> 00:19:14,754 - First off, what they're doing over there at the Conservancy 464 00:19:14,754 --> 00:19:15,755 is really amazing. 465 00:19:15,755 --> 00:19:17,757 I don't know if you've been over there lately but it looks just 466 00:19:17,757 --> 00:19:19,091 absolutely fantastic. 467 00:19:19,091 --> 00:19:21,093 And I'm excited to be a neighbor. 468 00:19:21,093 --> 00:19:25,031 When you look at the very origin of how we came about, 469 00:19:25,031 --> 00:19:27,366 we being Agricenter International and Shelby Farms 470 00:19:27,366 --> 00:19:31,037 Park Conservancy, we both came from Shelby Farms. 471 00:19:31,037 --> 00:19:33,706 So, when you look at that property as it existed back in 472 00:19:33,706 --> 00:19:38,144 the '60s and '70s, it basically was a very cutting edge, 473 00:19:38,144 --> 00:19:41,981 you know, penal system that was self-sufficient. 474 00:19:41,981 --> 00:19:43,082 They had their own dairy. 475 00:19:43,082 --> 00:19:45,084 They had their own, you know, ag production, 476 00:19:45,084 --> 00:19:46,285 their own beef cattle herd. 477 00:19:46,285 --> 00:19:51,257 And then it has a lot of soil practices that were very 478 00:19:51,257 --> 00:19:54,560 interesting as far as grass waterways and things like that. 479 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,296 And actually, I don't know if you know this or not but our 480 00:19:57,296 --> 00:19:59,298 very own county mayor, Mark Luttrell, 481 00:19:59,298 --> 00:20:01,634 his father was the superintendent of Shelby Farms 482 00:20:01,634 --> 00:20:02,635 at one time. 483 00:20:02,635 --> 00:20:06,138 So, it's kind of a very unique connection between Shelby Farms 484 00:20:06,138 --> 00:20:07,139 and.. 485 00:20:07,139 --> 00:20:09,141 - And Agricenter was founded when? 486 00:20:09,141 --> 00:20:10,142 - Eighty-three. 487 00:20:10,142 --> 00:20:11,210 So, the story I tell.. 488 00:20:11,210 --> 00:20:12,511 Now you may want to talk. 489 00:20:12,511 --> 00:20:14,680 We still have some of those gentlemen laying around here. 490 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:15,748 They can tell the truth. 491 00:20:15,748 --> 00:20:17,750 The story I tell myself and I think it sounds funny is that 492 00:20:17,750 --> 00:20:19,819 they were probably in a room, smoking a few cigars, 493 00:20:19,819 --> 00:20:22,922 maybe taking a glass of bourbon trying to figure out what do we 494 00:20:22,922 --> 00:20:25,758 do with a thousand acres on the other side of the road. 495 00:20:25,758 --> 00:20:26,759 Hey, let's make it.. 496 00:20:26,759 --> 00:20:27,893 We're here in the Delta. 497 00:20:27,893 --> 00:20:29,895 Let's make it about agriculture. 498 00:20:29,895 --> 00:20:31,897 So, you know, that's about '83, '84. 499 00:20:31,897 --> 00:20:33,899 I think the groundbreaking was '85. 500 00:20:33,899 --> 00:20:36,402 And it's, you know, you kind of laugh about it. 501 00:20:36,402 --> 00:20:39,805 But those founding members of Agricenter International really 502 00:20:39,805 --> 00:20:41,207 did this all in great favor. 503 00:20:41,207 --> 00:20:43,843 When you look at what you're trying to do from ag research 504 00:20:43,843 --> 00:20:46,946 and ag literacy, I think the country and the nation and the 505 00:20:46,946 --> 00:20:50,649 region is kind of looking to us to kind of lead as an example. 506 00:20:50,649 --> 00:20:52,651 - And Agricenter, for people who don't know, 507 00:20:52,651 --> 00:20:54,653 and I was a little confused about this before prepping 508 00:20:54,653 --> 00:20:55,654 for the show. 509 00:20:55,654 --> 00:20:57,957 Agricenter is an independent body, a 501-c3. 510 00:20:57,957 --> 00:20:59,158 Is that correct? 511 00:20:59,158 --> 00:21:02,795 But the land is still owned by the country. 512 00:21:02,795 --> 00:21:04,830 Funding comes from where? 513 00:21:04,830 --> 00:21:06,832 - We're self-sufficient actually. 514 00:21:06,832 --> 00:21:08,901 So, we pay our own way. 515 00:21:08,901 --> 00:21:10,903 - Through renting the space? 516 00:21:10,903 --> 00:21:13,339 - Through the operations of our business. 517 00:21:13,339 --> 00:21:14,573 So, we have.. 518 00:21:14,573 --> 00:21:16,275 We rent space out. 519 00:21:16,275 --> 00:21:17,343 We have an event center. 520 00:21:17,343 --> 00:21:20,846 We have the Showplace Arena that we also run equestrian events. 521 00:21:20,846 --> 00:21:23,215 We've mentioned the Farmer's Market. 522 00:21:23,215 --> 00:21:26,051 We haven't mentioned the RV park. 523 00:21:26,051 --> 00:21:31,357 We have an RV park that is an extremely successful business 524 00:21:31,357 --> 00:21:32,491 entity for us. 525 00:21:32,491 --> 00:21:37,429 We do a lot of ag research for basically for hire. 526 00:21:37,429 --> 00:21:40,099 So, that's an income train for us, as well. 527 00:21:40,099 --> 00:21:43,602 - And the agritourism is a term that you guys use 528 00:21:43,602 --> 00:21:44,603 on your website. 529 00:21:44,603 --> 00:21:46,372 What does that mean? 530 00:21:46,372 --> 00:21:49,542 - Well, it's how you kind of engage the local community with 531 00:21:49,542 --> 00:21:50,943 what's going on in agriculture. 532 00:21:50,943 --> 00:21:54,480 So, how we do it is through a tenant of ours 533 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:55,981 that runs a corn maze. 534 00:21:55,981 --> 00:22:00,219 I consider agritourism as Jones Orchard has 535 00:22:00,219 --> 00:22:01,554 a You-Pick Strawberry. 536 00:22:01,554 --> 00:22:03,556 I consider that basically agritourism. 537 00:22:03,556 --> 00:22:04,557 The strawberries are amazing. 538 00:22:04,557 --> 00:22:05,558 Don't get me wrong. 539 00:22:05,558 --> 00:22:08,661 But it's really interesting to watch people interact with, 540 00:22:08,661 --> 00:22:10,663 you know, something like that. 541 00:22:10,663 --> 00:22:12,665 - And that's the fundamental mission then? 542 00:22:12,665 --> 00:22:14,667 So, you've got to be self-sufficient. 543 00:22:14,667 --> 00:22:16,669 But you're not just there to make money. 544 00:22:16,669 --> 00:22:17,670 You are a non-profit. 545 00:22:17,670 --> 00:22:18,671 - You bet. 546 00:22:18,671 --> 00:22:20,673 And so, when you look at our mission statement, 547 00:22:20,673 --> 00:22:23,008 I think it's real important that we emphasize we're about ag 548 00:22:23,008 --> 00:22:27,513 education and trying to bridge that gap between people 549 00:22:27,513 --> 00:22:29,515 understand where their food and fiber comes from. 550 00:22:29,515 --> 00:22:30,983 - Just three minutes left. 551 00:22:30,983 --> 00:22:35,521 - And you've also got an audience for this with what is 552 00:22:35,521 --> 00:22:36,655 happening at the park. 553 00:22:36,655 --> 00:22:43,395 Because on the western end of your side of Walnut Grove Road, 554 00:22:43,395 --> 00:22:46,532 a lot of people are crossing there at Farm Road. 555 00:22:46,532 --> 00:22:49,068 So, they see what's going on there. 556 00:22:49,068 --> 00:22:52,871 I mean, I bike ride through the park as well as to see what's 557 00:22:52,871 --> 00:22:54,473 going on at Agricenter. 558 00:22:54,473 --> 00:22:56,475 - Yeah and we've just got, you know, 559 00:22:56,475 --> 00:23:00,412 super happy to have a chance to try to do some extension and 560 00:23:00,412 --> 00:23:02,815 completion of our greenline on our facility. 561 00:23:02,815 --> 00:23:05,384 Also, we have Wolf River right there 562 00:23:05,384 --> 00:23:07,219 to the extreme south of us. 563 00:23:07,219 --> 00:23:08,220 It borders us, as well. 564 00:23:08,220 --> 00:23:11,323 So, we have a lot of tourism. 565 00:23:11,323 --> 00:23:14,393 On our facility, we're actually 1.4 million people 566 00:23:14,393 --> 00:23:16,128 to our campus annually. 567 00:23:16,128 --> 00:23:18,163 So, we're like the third largest tourist attraction 568 00:23:18,163 --> 00:23:19,465 in Shelby County. 569 00:23:19,465 --> 00:23:22,268 So, we're really happy with what's going on around us. 570 00:23:22,268 --> 00:23:25,704 We think that we're a really great jewel and certainly a 571 00:23:25,704 --> 00:23:28,407 complement to Shelby County, and to the region, 572 00:23:28,407 --> 00:23:30,743 and to the Greater Memphis area. 573 00:23:30,743 --> 00:23:32,745 - Some of the other tenants that are out there 574 00:23:32,745 --> 00:23:33,746 that people are familiar with. 575 00:23:33,746 --> 00:23:35,748 Ducks Unlimited is obviously a big one. 576 00:23:35,748 --> 00:23:37,750 But there's things like the raptors. 577 00:23:37,750 --> 00:23:38,751 Talk about that. 578 00:23:38,751 --> 00:23:39,752 It's a small.. 579 00:23:39,752 --> 00:23:40,753 Talk about that for a second. 580 00:23:40,753 --> 00:23:42,755 - Anywhere in the Mid-South region, 581 00:23:42,755 --> 00:23:45,157 if there's a bird of prey that's injured or needs help, 582 00:23:45,157 --> 00:23:48,794 they call the Raptor Center and they go get them or TWRA takes 583 00:23:48,794 --> 00:23:49,795 it to them. 584 00:23:49,795 --> 00:23:51,797 And they basically try to bring those birds back to health. 585 00:23:51,797 --> 00:23:53,999 So, it's a really great story. 586 00:23:53,999 --> 00:23:55,534 I know they could use.. 587 00:23:55,534 --> 00:23:59,238 They're a 501-3c and they could use additional funding, 588 00:23:59,238 --> 00:24:00,239 as well. 589 00:24:00,239 --> 00:24:02,241 So, if any of your audience members would love to 590 00:24:02,241 --> 00:24:04,243 participate in the Raptor Center, 591 00:24:04,243 --> 00:24:06,245 I'm sure they would appreciate it. 592 00:24:06,245 --> 00:24:08,247 We also have partnership with the Memphis Zoo in trying to 593 00:24:08,247 --> 00:24:10,249 raise the bamboo for their pandas. 594 00:24:10,249 --> 00:24:11,717 That's a great story, as well. 595 00:24:11,717 --> 00:24:13,719 - As somebody who lives in Midtown, 596 00:24:13,719 --> 00:24:14,853 bamboo in my back yard. 597 00:24:14,853 --> 00:24:15,854 They don't want mine. 598 00:24:15,854 --> 00:24:16,989 But they do want yours. 599 00:24:16,989 --> 00:24:19,458 And you all were partnered in the AgLaunch Accelerator. 600 00:24:19,458 --> 00:24:20,459 - You bet. 601 00:24:20,459 --> 00:24:21,460 - There's a huge.. 602 00:24:21,460 --> 00:24:22,461 We has Leslie Smith. 603 00:24:22,461 --> 00:24:24,463 She's one of the people from EPIcenter, 604 00:24:24,463 --> 00:24:25,464 the start-up community, on. 605 00:24:25,464 --> 00:24:26,532 And it's growing and growing. 606 00:24:26,532 --> 00:24:27,533 Bioworks is involved. 607 00:24:27,533 --> 00:24:30,436 But talk about your role and it gets back to this innovation, 608 00:24:30,436 --> 00:24:32,705 technology, and the business and so on. 609 00:24:32,705 --> 00:24:34,707 What the AgLaunch Accelerator involves. 610 00:24:34,707 --> 00:24:36,709 - Well, first off, I can just say, 611 00:24:36,709 --> 00:24:38,711 you know, Memphis Bioworks, what they're doing there is 612 00:24:38,711 --> 00:24:39,712 absolutely incredible. 613 00:24:39,712 --> 00:24:41,714 We're just a partner with them on a lot of their programs. 614 00:24:41,714 --> 00:24:43,716 And we're just trying to help them as much as we can. 615 00:24:43,716 --> 00:24:45,718 When you look at the future of what Agricenter holds for the 616 00:24:45,718 --> 00:24:47,720 region, we think it's an incubator, 617 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:49,722 it's an opportunity to have start-up businesses there. 618 00:24:49,722 --> 00:24:54,727 An R and D campus maybe, you know, 619 00:24:58,497 --> 00:25:02,368 probably as we look into the future. 620 00:25:02,368 --> 00:25:03,369 - At Agricenter? 621 00:25:03,369 --> 00:25:04,536 - Absolutely at Agricenter. 622 00:25:04,536 --> 00:25:07,673 We think we have the chance, the way we're positioned in the 623 00:25:07,673 --> 00:25:09,675 Delta here in the Mid-South region, 624 00:25:09,675 --> 00:25:13,112 specifically focused on ag generation, 625 00:25:13,112 --> 00:25:16,281 ag business, we think we have the chance to kind of be that 626 00:25:16,281 --> 00:25:19,218 nucleus of where does it start at. 627 00:25:19,218 --> 00:25:22,454 It starts at Agricenter here in the Mid-South region in Memphis. 628 00:25:22,454 --> 00:25:23,455 - How many people? 629 00:25:23,455 --> 00:25:26,792 I'm going to put you on the spot with a couple of seconds left. 630 00:25:26,792 --> 00:25:29,294 How many people are employed in the Mid-South in ag business? 631 00:25:29,294 --> 00:25:31,130 Do you have any sense of that? 632 00:25:31,130 --> 00:25:33,132 - You know, I don't know in the Mid-South. 633 00:25:33,132 --> 00:25:35,134 I can tell you in the state of Tennessee, 634 00:25:35,134 --> 00:25:37,269 the ag economy is about $63 billion in the state 635 00:25:37,269 --> 00:25:38,270 of Tennessee. 636 00:25:38,270 --> 00:25:39,271 - Alright. 637 00:25:39,271 --> 00:25:41,273 Well, that is all the time we have. 638 00:25:41,273 --> 00:25:42,274 Thanks for being here. 639 00:25:42,274 --> 00:25:43,275 It was great to meet you. 640 00:25:43,275 --> 00:25:44,276 Thank you for joining us. 641 00:25:44,276 --> 00:25:51,150 Join us again next week. 642 00:25:51,150 --> 00:25:56,155 [theme music] 643 00:26:04,196 --> 00:26:06,498 (male announcer)   Production funding for   Behind the Headlines 644 00:26:06,498 --> 00:26:11,236 is made   possible in part by.. 645 00:26:11,236 --> 00:26:15,941 The Bartlett Area Chamber of   Commerce and its member A2H - 646 00:26:15,941 --> 00:26:18,877 engineers, architects and   planners creating an enhanced 647 00:26:18,877 --> 00:26:21,213 quality of life for our   clients and community. 648 00:26:21,213 --> 00:26:24,950 To learn more about   A2H's services and markets, 649 00:26:24,950 --> 00:26:26,952 visit A2H.com.