In addition to contributing to our food supply, agriculture has economic and environmental impacts on a local community. In order to remain viable, agricultural operations need support systems and facilities (infrastructure). Infrastructure can be specific to agriculture in some cases, or it can be used by the general public in others.

What is infrastructure in the context of agriculture? Infrastructure includes the farms, markets, and businesses that support the farms within a given area. For example, in a region that grows corn and field crops, the infrastructure would include the farm and farm family, their employees, the equipment dealers, and the grain elevators to name a few.

Without the farm and farm family, there would be no need for the employees of that farm. The equipment dealers would not have anyone to sell equipment to, and the business would close, impacting the owner and employees. The elevators would have no grain to store and ship, and this may even affect a railroad line that services more businesses in the immediate area. The closing of the elevators also impacts the owner and employees.

In addition to the various components of infrastructure that are directly tied to agriculture, there are also those that are utilized jointly by all the residents and businesses in the community. These include items such as transportation systems, communication systems, and educational institutions. 

One issue when it comes to infrastructure is that there are numerous decision makers that directly or indirectly determine its location, availability, and capacity. When elected and appointed officials plan, design, regulate and construct a community’s infrastructure system, they do so considering not only the individuals or businesses that need and use it, but the common good of the community as a whole. For the agricultural community, it’s vital that they understand the infrastructure components that impact them, who the applicable decision makers are, and then convey their needs to those decision makers. In many cases, this will include local municipal officials and board members. In others, it can involve state and federal officials and agencies.