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BUSINESS JOURNAL

West Point couple receive top designation, pg. 8 APRIL 2017

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HARD WORK AHEAD

FEATURE: Region growing with national farm-to-table trend as more restaurants begin using local ingredients on menus.

page 5

NEWS: National experts say endangered bumblebee poses no significant risk to food production.

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COLUMN:

Sweet potato industry eyes labor debate

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce for Mississippi discusses growing recognition of industry’s importance.

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THE NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

APRIL 2017

Importance of agriculture continues to grow throughout state

A

griculture remains the backbone of our country. While only 2 percent of the nation’s population is involved in production agriculture; 100 percent of the world’s population consumes agricultural commodities as either food products or other consumables derived from agricultural commodities. American farmers and ranchers provide the safest and most affordable food supply. On average, American consumers spend less than 7 percent of their household income on food consumed at home, while those in other countries spend as much as 47 percent of their income on food.

In order to continue feeding and clothing the world as the population continues to grow, farmers are adopting innovative technologies to produce more crops on fewer acres while using fewer resources. Farmers produce 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs than compared to 1950. Today, one farm in the U.S. feeds 168 people as compared to only 25 in 1960.

Agriculture is vital to Mississippi’s economy.

Throughout history, agriculture has played an important role in shaping the state’s economy, and it continues to be an economic driver for the state.

As the largest industry in

the state, agriculture employs 29 percent of the workforce either directly or Hyde-Smith indirectly.

With our fertile soil, temperate climate and gifted farmers and ranchers, Mississippi has the resources, fortitude, and versatility to provide safe and affordable food to the growing world population.

Mississippi’s 36,700 farms, covering nearly 11 million acres, produce a variety of agricultural commodities with a farm-gate value of nearly $8 billion annually.

The diverse commodities produced range from poul-

try and eggs to grain crops including soybeans and corn, as well as crops such as cotton, sweet potatoes, peanuts, fruits and vegetables and forestry products.

Mississippi is the leading producer of catfish in the U.S. with a $169 million value of production in 2016. Many do not realize that 96 percent of Mississippi farms are considered family farms.

As our farmers and ranchers take on the challenge of feeding a growing population with less land and fewer resources, opportunities for our future generations are being created. According to a study conducted by Purdue University, agriculture

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degrees rank in the top three expected demands in the job market. Nearly 58,000 jobs will open annually in occupations involving food, agriculture, renewable resources and engineering over the next few years.

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is dedicated to protecting and promoting agricultural-related businesses within the state and to promoting Mississippi’s products throughout both the state and the rest of the world. The Department impacts the lives of each Mississippian, not just those involved in agriculture.

The Department strives to ensure fairness and equity

in the marketplace and to protect Mississippians through sound regulatory practices.

The importance of agriculture and farmers and ranchers can’t be overstated. One idea that remains universal is that we all must eat in order to survive. Our diets may differ based on health, wealth, and access to food, but we all must eat.

And, we all rely on products made from agricultural products as we go about our daily routines. The next time you sit down for a meal, first thank God; then thank a farmer.

CINDY HYDE-SMITH is Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce for Mississippi.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Industry facing struggle to access abundant labor force

BY DENNIS SEID

I

BUSINESS JOURNAL

n the “Sweet Potato Capital of the World,” the starchy, edible root has been a mainstay of the local economy since it was introduced to the area more than 100 years ago.

Sweet potatoes are the 10th-largest segment of Mississippi’s $7.6 billion agricultural industry, accounting for $116 million in value last year.

Vardaman is the epicenter of it all, with the bulk of the more than 100 farms and two dozen packing facilities.

Growing sweet potatoes is labor intensive, however, and there are some concerns about a potential shortage of workers that could be exacerbated by President Trump’s immigration policies.

Steve Meyers, an assistant professor with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service, said the sweet potato industry needs access to an abundant and timely labor force.

“The greatest concentration of labor is required in the transplanting season from late May to July and harvest season from late August through October,” he said. “However, labor is used year-round for other operations, for example, hand-removal of weeds and operation of packing facilities.”

Meyers said there is some sense of unease among growers over the uncertainty of the impact of the Trump administration policies.

Agriculture industry experts and various labor organizations have warned that those policies could have a profound affect on agriculture, and ultimately, American consumers.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 71 percent of crop workers are foreign-born, and nearly half of farmhands are not legally authorized to work in the United States. Farm operations have come to rely more on immigrants because native workers have shied away from those jobs.

Jamie Earp, the president of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, says 60 to 70 percent off the approximately 3,000 workers who work the more than 29,000 across of sweet potato fields in the state are immigrants.

Earp said finding enough workers has always been a challenge. “it’s hard work, but also, you have to think about the small towns we’re in,” he said.

For example Vardaman’s population is about 1,300.

“We need 10 to 12 workers per 100 acres, and we’ve

IMAGES COURTESY OF MSU EXTENSION SERVICE

About 3,000 workers are needed during the sweet potato transplanting and harvest seasons each year to work the more than 28,000 acres in Mississippi. got more than 28,000 acres statewide,” Earp said. “So, we’re needing 3,000 workers all at one time, and the workforce just isn’t there. There’s some, but it’s not enough.”

Added Meyers, “It’s difficult to find 1,500 workers who want to work in June and July and then again in September and October. It’s not easy to find that kind of labor locally.”

FILLING THE GAP

According to the Partnership for a New American Economy, a bipartisan pro-immigration reform group, “a stable workforce is vital to the success of farms, and Americans have failed to fill that gap as has the federal guest worker program called H-2A.” The H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program is a process for bringing temporary foreign workers into the U.S. legally, but has been criticized as being too

complex. Administrative red tape often delays the arrival of workers. The National Council of Agricultural Employers found that 72 percent of growers reported workers arrived after the date they were needed and were on average 22 days late.

The Partnership for a New American Economy estimates that labor shortages in agriculture cost the American economy about $3.1 billion a year.

Farmers and others in the agriculture industry are hoping for a more flexible system that keeps the number of visas uncapped, but allows foreign employees the freedom to move from employer to employer.

Some of the plans also include provisions that create a pathway to citizenship.

Kay Rentzel, executive secretary of the U.S. Sweet Potato Council, said at a 2015 meeting of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, “All we’re asking for is for them to give us a viable guest worker program so agriculture can have a stable, adequate, and predictable supply of labor.”

According to the Delta Farm Press, Rentzel said, “We spend a lot of time with members of Congress and key staff on labor issues. We continue to drive our message home, that we need the labor situation fixed.

“We don’t need to have comprehensive debate on labor issues and immigration issues at the same time – all we’re asking for now is for them to give us a viable guest worker program so agriculture can have a stable, adequate, and predictable supply of labor.

Whether it’s H-2A or something new, we need for this to be resolved. But, if they want to stick with the H-2A program, they need to address the adverse effect wage rate – it puts you in an unfair situation and affects your bottom line.”

The H-2A program provides a legal means to bring foreign-born workers to the United States to perform seasonal farm labor on a temporary basis. Employers must demonstrate, and the U.S. Department of Labor must certify, that efforts to recruit U.S. workers were not successful.

Meyers reiterated that American workers are given the first pass at a job.

“Anyone local who’s willing and able to do one of those jobs must be hired before a migratory person is,” he said.

But because the supply isn’t meeting demand, growers have to turn to outside help.

And it’s not exactly cheap labor.

Under H-2A, employers must provide housing and pay the higher of the applicable state or federal TURN TO LABOR, 4

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

APRIL 2017

APRIL 2017

Labor: Report finds large-scale labor shortage could lead to 5-6 percent jump in food prices for consumers FROM 3

minimum wage, the prevailing wage in that region and occupation, as determined by the Department of Labor. For the most recent figures available, in fiscal year 2013, the wage rate ranged from $9.50 to $12.33 per hour, depending on the state. In Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana, the adverse effect wage rate was $9.50 and hour, $9.78 in Alabama and $9.80 in Tennessee.

Meyers and Earp say Mississippi sweet potato farmers abide by the H-2A program as well as E-Verify, the federal government’s internet-based program, to ensure the immigration status of their workers. However, the threat of immigration crackdowns could dampen the desire of some to seek work in the Magnolia State and elsewhere.

The H-2A program is “cumbersome for us” Earp said. “Most of the guys who do it has one person assigned to do just

the paperwork for that. That’s impossible to do for smaller farmers.”

“We try to remind these key congressional people on a regular basis of our needs and issues related to labor,” Rentzel said. “When sweet potatoes are ready to be planted or harvested, labor needs to be available.”

Of the 1.5 to 2 million people working in agriculture today, at least 50 percent to 70 percent of farm workers are undocumented immigrants, according to a recent report by the American Farm Bureau Federation. If the U.S. were to deport a significant portion of them, the move could result in labor and food production shortages, some experts warn.

Trump has suggested that low-skilled immigration has reduced wages and job availability for U.S. citizens, and that current immigration policies do not sufficiently prioritize American jobs.

The AFBF report suggests that agricultural laborers would be hard to replace because of how grueling the work is – 12-hour shifts in 100-degree weather (without overtime pay) are common.

A large-scale labor shortage could therefore lead to a 5 percent to 6 percent jump in food prices for consumers, the report says.

The immigrant laborers are welcome with open arms in Vardaman and other sweet potato-growing areas, Earp said.

They’re not only needed to work the fields, they also spend money in the local economy.

Having the workers is essential to the industry, he said.

“We’d have to shut the doors down, because there’s just not enough labor without them,” he said. “ dennis.seid@journalinc.com Twitter: @dennisseid

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Region growing with national farm-to-table trend

BY THOMAS SIMPSON BUSINESS JOURNAL

TUPELO – Mitch McCamey understands the importance of using fresh, local ingredients.

He and his partner Seth Copeland own the Neon Pig, a butcher shop/food bar, and Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen. Both restaurants are staples in the area that strive to serve only the freshest ingredients straight from farms in Northeast Mississippi.

“We just want to serve good food and have fun doing it,” McCamey said.

Farm-totable, also known as McCamey farm-tofork, is a revitalized trend that promotes bringing ingredients from local farms and bringing them straight to the customer’s table for consumption, without going through a store, market or distributor along the way.

The trend can also describe the relationship between a farmer and a restaurant.

“We get to build relationships with the farmers we work with because there’s no middle man dealing with them,” McCamey said.

“It’s us going out the farms, talking to the farmers and picking up the finest ingredients. If it’s a trend, it’s a great trend.”

One of the farms both restaurants work with is Memory Orchard. Marian Maloney works on the

Memory Orchard farm. She helps supply fresh fruits, vegetables, jellies and other things to KOK, Neon Pig and other local restaurants and shops.

“Nationwide, people are starting to ask the question, ‘What’s in my food?’” Maloney said. “People want to make sure they know what they are eating, especially with the amount of chemicals that are in the foods you can find at grocery stores like Kroger and Sams.”

A lot of these foods have chemical additives that enhance the size, color or taste of the food. While that sounds appealing, Maloney said buying healthy, locally sourced ingredients can help you avoid any possible health problems associated with these additives.

Last month, the Animal and Dairy Sciences department at MSU partnered with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership to host a “Know Your Farmer Know Your Food” event at the Bearden Dairy Research Center. Students split up into different groups to teach visitors about different areas of the farming industry, focusing primarily on what products come from the animals and how that process works.

“It’s important for people to understand where their products come from and that they realize it isn’t necessarily harmful,” Anika Eidson said. “We just want to show them what a farmer does on a daily basis.”

Jennifer Prather is the special events and projects coordinator for GSDP. She

KEVIN HUDSON | MSU EXTENSION SERVICE

Mississippi State students hosted Know Your Farmer Know Your Food, an event to teach young people and families about the importance of farming and locally grown food. Elizabeth and Jonathan Stancill help feed James, a 7-day-old dairy calf, as MSU students, Emily Fuller, standing left, Madison Boyd and Caroline Knesal, kneeling with calf, watch. believes one of the most important components of the farmers’ market is educating the public on the necessity of local food and the health benefits from that food.

“This fits right into the market where we educate people where their food comes from and the processes that are used to produce for them,” Prather said. “Hopefully, the public can really understand what they are buying at the market after attending this event.”

“People want the knowledge to know that what they are eating is healthy and the trust that the farmer will provide that healthy food,” Maloney said. “With farm-to-table, it is literally the idea of providing people with food directly from the farm to the table.”

In order to help avoid buying the potentially harmful food, McCamey says to look at the label.

If something is imported

from outside the United States, there are several countries that don’t have the same EPA restrictions as local farmers have. McCamey believes as long as people pay attention to where the food comes from and how it is made, it is easy to pick out the healthy foods.

While farm-to-table sounds like a new trend, it was actually used for hundreds of years. Everyone, especially in Mississippi, farmed their own produce

and animals.

According to McCamey, convenience changed the game.

“My grandparents are still alive and healthy at 90 because they produced their own food,” he said.

“By the next generation, everyone worked. Both mom and dad got jobs and worked 60 hours to provide for their families. It became easier to drive into town and pick up fast food or eat at a corporate chain rather than grow your own food and cook it.”

Money also plays a big role in choosing convenience over store-bought food However, a 2010 study conducted by “Society of Teachers of Family Medicine,” or STFM, found that the average daily cost of healthy diet was $7.48, while the fast food diet averaged $15.30 per day.

“A lot of the corporate chains will sacrifice quality and nutrition to make as much money as they can,” McCamey said. “We understand that money can affect people’s decisions, but we want to show that you can

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eat healthy on a relatively low budget.”

Trish McCluney is owner, accounts payable and marketing director of the Neon Pig and works with McCamey and Copeland.

She believes that farm-totable has been an “absolute success” for the restaurant.

“We all grew up with family that had their own gardens,” McCluney said.

“We know what fresh food tastes like and the health benefits that are associated with it. We want to be able to provide that to everyone in the area.”

Said Prather, “As far as the state as a whole, the farm-to-table movement is not one that is going away anytime soon. It is important for us to really celebrate that and promote it as much as we can.

“Not only is there a sense to contributing to a quality of life by offering people very healthy, local foods, but there is also an entrepreneurial aspect that we are growing the small businesses that are impacted through agriculture.” thomas.simpson@journalinc.com

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

APRIL 2017

6

Endangered bumblebee poses no big risk to food production

BY THOMAS SIMPSON BUSINESS JOURNAL

TUPELO – For the first time in the United States, a bumblebee species has been declared endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The species, specifically the rusty patched bumblebee, or Bombus affinus, once thrived in 28 states and the District of Columbia, but its population has dropped 90 percent, according to National Geographic.

The protected status, which went into effect Feb. 10, includes requirements for federal protections and the development of a recovery plan. It also means that states with habitats for this species are eligible for federal funds.

“There are more than 3,000 bee species in the United States, and about 40 belong to the genus Bombus, or bumblebee,” said Jeff Harris, an assistant extension/research professor at Mississippi State University’s Extension Service.

The bumblebee isn’t the first bee to be listed as endangered in the U.S. In September, seven species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees received protection under the Endangered Species Act. Habitat loss, degradation, pathogens and pesticides are big contributors to the dramatic decline of the bumblebee population. Twenty-three percent of bee populations were lost between 2008 and 2013, and 39 percent of U.S. crop lands are losing bees.

One of the main concerns about these

A queen bee scurries toward the bottom left corner of a frame of capped cells containing bee larvae. Worker bees have many different jobs within a colony, including caring for baby bees. bees being listed on the endangered species list is that bees help pollinate the nation’s food supply.

A recent major global assessment sponsored by the U.N. suggested that about 40 percent of invertebrate pollinator species are facing extinction. The bumblebee is a key contributor to pollinating blueberries, cranberries and clover, and almost the only insect pollinator of tomatoes, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

However, Harris believes this is no cause

for alarm.

“The bumblebee isn’t as necessary to food production as the honey bee,” he said. “The bumblebee does pollinate fruits like blueberries and cranberries, but honey bees do a majority of the work.”

According to a study conducted by Cornell University in 2010, crops pollinated by honey bees and other insects contributed to $29 billion to farm income. More specifically, honeybees pollinated $12.4 billion worth of directly dependent crops

and $6.8 billion worth of indirectly dependent crops, or 23 percent of the 2010 farm income.

“People believe that when bees are gone, food production will be gone, and that is completely false,” Harris said. “The only thing that will be threatened is that $19 billion. Most, if not all, of the top 10 crops the United States produces do not get pollinated by bees. There are fruits, like apples, which Americans love, that do get pollinated, but we aren’t going to starve to death if they do go extinct.”

The top 10 crops that fed the world in 2008 are led by corn at 822.7 million tons, followed by wheat, rice, potatoes, cassava, soybeans, sweet potatoes, sorghum, yams and plantains. However, soybeans are the only crop in that list that are pollinated by insects, while the rest of the rest are pollinated by the wind, cuttings or through itself.

As for those who want to try and save the bees, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed several ways to try and stop the bees’ decline. These include planting native flowers, limiting or avoiding pesticides and fostering natural landscapes that attract the insects.

Since 1973, the Endangered Species Act has allowed the federal government to protect certain species by designating them as threatened or endangered, preserving habitat and outlawing hunts.

It currently protects more than 1,600 plant and animal species. thomas.simpson@journalinc.com

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APRIL 2017

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APRIL 2017

West Point couple named nation’s best farmers

BY LINDA BREAZEALE MSU EXTENSION

WEST POINT – Mississippi’s agricultural future is safe in the hands of some of the nation’s best farmers. Brad and Molly Judson of Clay County have the award to prove it.

Charlie Stokes, area agronomy agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, nominated the winning couple for the National Outstanding Young Farmers award.

The National Association of County Agricultural Agents sponsors the recognition program.

“The award recognizes their progress in an agricultural career, their soil and water conservation practices, and contributions to the well-being of the community, state and nation,” Stokes said.

The Judsons were one of four winning couples chosen from 10 national semifinalists for the award.

One unique aspect for them is that they did not inherit their farming operation.

“Brad’s dad farmed until the 1980s, so they had some family land, but mostly, they expanded by leasing area land,” Stokes said. “MSU has worked closely with him and vice versa. We have conducted corn and soybean variety trials and corn fungicide research on their farm in past years. We’ve advised Brad as he made irrigation decisions in an effort for the process to be more efficient and provide the best return on investment.”

Brad Judson said surrounding his farm with good people has been a key element in his success.

“Farmers should not be loners; they need to network. This experience with the national award process has driven that home,” he said. “We enjoyed meeting all the other nominees and learning what we have in common, even if from very different farms.”

Brad Judson said several of the other young farmers faced challenges with keeping good employees.

“We have been very fortunate to find great em-

ployees that we can trust,” he said. “They are reliable and have a great work ethic.”

Stokes said east Mississippi farmers deserve recognition for their efforts and accomplishments.

“We have some of the best farmers in the country in east Mississippi. They overcome challenges from smaller fields and more travel requirements,” he said. “They need to be recognized for doing a good job and also being very involved in their communities.”

In addition to the Judsons, east Mississippi is also home to state’s 2016 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year, Paul Good of Noxubee County.

“The criteria for the young farmer of the year required the nominees be less than 40 years old,” Stokes said. “That really limits the options. Luckily, the Judsons would be great nominees regardless of the age limits. They are always trying to make their farm better and be more effi-

Molly and Brad Judson of Clay County are one of four couples who recently earned the National Outstanding Young Farmers award. They were nominated by their Mississippi State University Extension Service agent for the recognition from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. cient.”

Stokes said successful farming depends on smart decisions.

Both the Judsons are graduates of MSU. Brad Judson earned his degree in agribusiness. Molly Judson holds a degree in elementary education. Cur-

rently, she works full time for the family farm with an emphasis on their children, Hamp and Howie.

The Judsons serve their community in a variety of ways on agricultural boards and in church service, local philanthropy and schools. He is a mem-

ber of the Soil and Water Conservation District Board and the Clay County Farm Bureau Board. She is active in the Garden Club and Parent Teacher Association. Their farm has contributed to fundraisers such as rodeos, 5k runs and fire departments.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Reviewing finances after a divorce is critical

F

ew events in life have the long lasting emotional scars of a divorce. The entire process of accounting for all marital assets, court hearings and determination of what is an “equitable” settlement can be challenging at best. Along with the emotional scars comes the realization of the financial implications involved. Often, putting your financial house in order can go a long way to helping rebuild your life and future.

Following a divorce, it is vital to face your new financial situation with an eye toward reality.

You must first determine exactly where you are and what is that new reality. This might mean having to start paying bills such as utilities, car payments, mortgages that the former spouse formerly paid without the benefit of his or her income. It also can mean that the lifestyle you enjoyed might not be possible anymore without that income.

The absolute best place to start is to establish a budget that reflects the new financial reality.

Include all sources of income such as salary, alimony and child support. Remember that certain payments from a divorce settlement may have an expiration date or event on them and that should be factored in, especially when paying long-term. When figuring expenses, prioritize fixed expenses such as housing, groceries, transportation and utilities.

Discretionary expenses such as entertainment, vacations, indulgences, etc., need to be figured in only after all lifestyle basics are accounted for. That being said, it is important to not totally deprive yourself and you should build in certain enjoyments into your budget.

After a budget is established, it is important to rethink what your long-term financial goals are. Ask yourself, where do I want to be

in 10, 20, 30 years.

Having a house at the beach may have been a goal for you and your spouse, but how important is it Cole when you are no longer married? Sometimes the process of reevaluating such with the focus on yourself can go far in helping put the past behind someone.

Do you need to save for a child’s education? Do you need to save more for retirement? If so, how much? Do you want to go back to school? All these are questions that can only be answered by the individual through contemplation about their short and long term goals.

When evaluating the present situation, it is vital to understand any debt that is placed with you after the divorce settlement.

Along with this, divorce can have a negative impact on your credit

rating, causing problems when trying to purchase a house, car, or any other large asset. Credit is even sometimes reviewed when applying for employment. Every person is entitled to a free credit report once a year from each of the three large credit reporting agencies. Once you obtain one, check the report for erroneous info or if accounts are listed as joint accounts with an exspouse. Work with the agencies to get this corrected as soon as possible to avoid having negative info on a former spouse affect your credit rating.

One of the most common oversights after a divorce is to not change beneficiary designations on accounts. Many investment accounts such as retirement plans and IRAs allow the designation of a specific person as beneficiary of the funds in case of death of the account holder. This designation only changes when the account

holder does such in writing. This is also true for life insurance policies. In this day two-income households, many employers offer life insurance as a benefit to the employee but can only change the beneficiary if directed by the individual. One of the best ways to approach this is to meet with an attorney to establish a new estate plan including a new will. Part of the process will be the naming of beneficiaries and an accounting of all assets that require a new beneficiary to be named.

While divorce can leave tremendous scars, you can start the process of healing by addressing personal finances. By doing some basic money management, that process can be accelerated and you can begin a new life on a strong foundation.

CHRIS COLE is a Chartered Wealth Advisor and vice president of Hilliard Lyons in Tupelo.

Mississippi company debuts on ‘Top 500 Brands’ list

BY BUSINESS JOURNAL

JACKSON – Poultry company Sanderson Farms, based in Laurel, has made it first appearance on a list of America’s top 500

brands, according to Brand Finance, a valuation and strategy consultancy company which compiles the annual rankings.

Sanderson Farms is Mis-

WAGES

sissippi’s most valuable brand and the state’s only entry in the list.

Sanderson Farms is a new entrant to Brand Finance’s US 500 list, coming in at

469th as one of only 20 food brands to feature, alongside giants like Kellogg’s, Heinz, and Mars. The company has positioned its brand around responsibility in the

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ucts at a higher price. It also sought to educate the public on common misconceptions surrounding the use of antibiotics in poultry production.

• General Plumbing Repairs • Clogged Drains & Sewer cleaning • Trenchless Sewer Replacement • Faucets/Disposals • Toilets/Water Heaters • Emergency Plumbing • Leak locating • Video camera inspection • No Overtime Charge

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

APRIL 2017

W

APRIL 2017

Reasons for using a marketing firm can vary

hy do companies hire marketing firms?

There are many

reasons.

Some companies hire a marketing firm because they don’t have a marketing department for themselves and need assistance in this area of their business. Some companies don’t need a full-time marketing person and appreciate the depth they get when they employ a marketing firm that has many people and many ideas to share. There’s one phone call to make to get the work from a team.

Some companies have one person in marketing who needs more depth to

properly get the job done.

In this case, a marketing firm becomes the de facto marketing department for that company working directly for the marketing director. The company’s marketing person also has a group to brainstorm with and share ideas. There’s someone to call to ask, “Have you read the latest Adweek article? What do you think?”

Some companies use marketing firms to supplement the marketing work they cannot do for themselves. “Hey, you’re better at social and digital media. I want to hire you just for that.” Perhaps the company needs assistance in buying media or is just

looking for expertise for other ideas.

Companies know that it helps to get an outside opinion of their work. I belong to a group of advertising agency owners for the simple reason that I sometimes can’t see the forest for the trees either, and I need an outside opinion.

And, even if the advice is something I’ve thought of, it helps to reinforce that I’m following a path that others have traveled on.

My group is not shy about offering different opinions either.

Why do companies not hire a marketing firm?

One reason is they think they can do it on their own.

That’s fine. Some can. But,

sometimes it’s like that New Year’s resolution and gets put on the back burner as Robinson other hotter firey issues come before it. We all have a limited amount of time to get our jobs done. I look to others who have more expertise than I to help me – like accountants and lawyers.

“Well, I use Facebook, and that’s all I need.” I’m not opposed to Facebook.

I would recommend the Facebook-only user to talk to others who have experiences with other media to see how it works for them.

I don’t put all my eggs in

one basket. Are all my customers on Facebook? Are all my customers reading the Daily Journal? Who might I be leaving out?

What does the research show? What do my existing customers say.

Another reason is expense. Anecdotally I always hear that the first cut on the budget is the marketing line. I know one business owner who believed in adding to the marketing line of his budget when the economy slowed so that he could gain market share so that as the economy was to grow the business was to grow in the new market share proportion. Of course, as a marketer, I’m going to ask if someone

can truly run their business without marketing it in some way. The buying public has to know the company exists before it can make a decision to use the company.

To use marketing or not to use marketing. There’s no choice really.

Marketing is as integral part of any business as operations, human resources and accounting is.

I know that when I find myself saying that “I just don’t have the time,” that’s the point I need to reach out for help.

TY ROBINSON is president and COO of Robinson and Associates, a Tupelo-based marketing, advertising and public relations agency.

Soybeans still king, cotton making comeback in Mississippi

BY BUSINESS JOURNAL

JACKSON – Mississippi farmers will grow more soybeans and cotton this year due to bigger demand, and they’ll be cutting back on corn and rice plantings.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the

state’s growers will plant a total of about 4.194 million acres, a 170,000-acre increase.

About 2.25 million acres will be devoted to soybeans, a 10-percent increase over last year. Nationally, growers will plant a record 89.5

million acres, a 7 percent increase.

The USDA forecasts 550,000 cotton acres in Mississippi, up 26 percent from the 435,000 acres planted last year. That’s the most since 2011.

The total U.S. cotton crop

is predicted to exceed 12 million acres.

Mississippi State University Extension cotton specialist Darrin Dodds said Mississippi has averaged more than 1,000 pounds of cotton per acre for the last five years. Cotton planting

begins the second week of April at the earliest, he said, and cool or wet weather could push it to early May. “The last five years have been good for most of our cotton growers,” Dodds said. “When you combine a consistent track record with

respectable prices, a rise in acreage makes sense.”

Soybean prices are higher than they were a year ago, and “have held relatively strong this year despite a record soybean crop last fall,” said MSU agricultural economist Brian Williams.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH DAVID GILLILAND David Gilliland, consumer relationship officer with Renasant Bank, was named CDF’s February Ambassador of the Month. Serving his first term as Ambassador, David attended two ribbon cuttings and events, recruited four new members and contacted 10 CDF members through the member-to-mentor program.

CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER

COMFORT SUITES

Highlighting April as National Child Abuse Awareness month and the grand opening of its new facility at 2901 S. Eason Blvd. in Tupelo, the Family Resource Center of North Mississippi’s Children’s Advocacy Center hosted a ribbon cutting. Providing services to 13 counties in the region, the Children’s Advocacy Center serves children who may have been victims of abuse or who have witnessed violent crime. For more information, contact (662) 844-0013.

Comfort Suites held a ground breaking on the site of its new Barnes Crossing development at 1064 Carter Cove. The new hotel will feature 75 suites, an indoor pool, fitness room and an 1800-square-foot conference room. For more information, visit choicehotels.com/comfortsuites.

3429 Jeff Homan Contractor shop, very good condition, move-in ready. 6,000 square feet. One acre.

17-82 $250,000.

James Riley Hunter 662.871.8658

jrhunter@tmcommercialgroup.com

662.842.3844 210 E. Main St., Tupelo

Call James Hunter

for more information - 662-871-8658.

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APRIL 2017

APRIL 2017

WAITS LAW PLLC

JIMMY JOHN’S

Waits Law Firm held a ribbon cutting in celebration of its grand opening at 95 S. Green St. Suite C in Tupelo. Waits Law is concentrated in the areas of real property, business transactions and estates. Facilitating life’s transitions and bringing peace of mind to what can otherwise be a chaotic time is the firm’s goal. For more information, contact waitslaw.net or call (622) 269-3543.

In celebration of the grand opening of its 501 S. Gloster St. location, Jimmy John’s hosted a ribbon cutting. Whether dining in or ordering for delivery, Jimmy John’s hand-crafted sandwiches are served by people who take the time to do it right. Order online at jimmyjohns.com or call (662) 269-3234.

Beautiful Living, Thoughtfully Planned

Contact Us Today

662-842-9596

www.TheVillagesOfTupelo.com

4278 Village Lake Drive Tupelo, Mississippi 38801

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Business Directory A PAR TMENTS

BANK

AUTOMOTIVE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Apartment Homes 1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms

MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, & FIREFIGHTER DISCOUNT Ask about our Military & Law Enforcement Discount

Call 662-891-5000

Call Robin Barnett today!

662-841-8743 rbarnett@trustmark.com

Whether you’re hauling or delivering...Call

DWAYNE BLACKMON CHEVROLET for your commercial vehicle needs!

3260 Hwy 145 N. • Tupelo, MS 38804

1410 SOUTH GLOSTER / TUPELO / 842-3611

BANK

BANK

B ATH R EMODELING Bath Remodeling Shower Remodeling Tub-To-Shower Conversion Bathroom Accessories Handicap Accessible

Bank Of Okolona Okolona

P.O. Box 306 • Okolona, Mississippi 38860

(662) 447-5403 Bank of Mantee

54 1st Street • Mantee, Mississippi

(662) 456-5341

Houston Banking Center

321 W. Madison St. • Houston, Mississippi

(662) 456-3347

Calhoun Banking Center

200 S. Pontotoc Rd. • Bruce, Mississippi

(662) 983-3700

www.bankofokolona.com

“The Sign of Service” Baldwy n • B oonevill e • M arietta Mantachi e • M oorevill e • T upelo

Your Financial Cornerstone.

BLINDS

Give Us One Day… We’ll Give You A Beautiful New Bathroom!

662-350-3175

www .fmbms.com

BUILDING SUPPLIES

BUILDING SUPPLIES

Ph: (662) 365-7021

Fax: (662) 365-8902 H Y N & ARDW W L D SUPPLY, INC. A R E BA

• Electrical • Glass • Valspar Paints • Welding Supplies • Portable Carports

• Full Service • Hardware • Building Supplies • Plumbing • Hydraulic Hoses

Lumbe ville e n o o r B Company Full Line of Lumber, Hardware, Plumbing and Electrical Supplies 2300 E. Chambers Dr. • Booneville • 728-0094

Booneville Hardware & Supply 403 Church St. • Booneville • 728-0032 "For all your hardware needs"

1187 North 4th St. • Baldwyn, MS 38824

JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY

JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY

TERESA MCDONALD

KRYSTAL BLACK

PRINT

Robbie Parker - Owner & Director 6 Weeks - 12 Years After School Program Available

2541 McCullough Blvd. • Tupelo, MS 38801

620-9062

Licensed And Insured

2015 McCullough Blvd. • Tupelo, MS 38801

Rex & Diannah Coggins, Owners

CHILD CARE

FREE IN HOME ESTIMATE

www.bathfitter.com

ONLINE

INTERACTIVE

PRINT

ONLINE

INTERACTIVE

Multimedia/Inside Sales Consultant

Multimedia/Inside Sales Consultant

teresa.mcdonald@journalinc.com

krystal.black@journalinc.com

PO Box 909 Tupelo, MS | 38802-0909 1242 South Green Street Tupelo, MS | 38804

Phone 662.678.1531 or 1.800.270.2614 ext.531 Fax 662.620.8301

PO Box 909 Tupelo, MS | 38802-0909 1242 South Green Street Tupelo, MS | 38804

Phone 662.678.1532 or 1.800.270.2614 ext.532 Fax 662.620.8301

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

APRIL 2017

APRIL 2017

Business Directory C O L L I S I O N R E PA I R

COMMERCIAL CLEANING SERVICES

C OMMERCIAL P LUMBING

RH PLUMBING, INC. 24 Hour Wrecker Service

Junior Burns - Cell 662-728-0524 David Denson - Cell 662-416-5591 100 W. Veterans Drive • Booneville, MS 38829

224StarlynAve.NewAlbany , MS 38652

662-534-4448

Phone 662-728-4459 • Fax (662) 728-4150

C O O L I N G & H E AT I N G

0%

Commercial Plumbing, Gas & Industrial Piping RICHARD HANLON (662) 447-3213

P.O. BOX 417 Okolona, MS 38860

Thank you for choosing RH Plumbing. We appreciate your business

FURNITURE

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

FINANCING F O R U P TO 6 0 MONTHS

589 N. Coley Rd. Tupelo, MS

APPLY ONLINE AT

WWW.MMHEATCOOL.NET

F R E E E S T I M AT E S 1255NELLESTREET| TUPELO

www.careers.iqor.com Great Employment Opportunities

662-844-0270

www.mmheatcool.net • Scott Mattox, Owner * All financing requires an approved credit application.

903 Varsity Dr. Tupelo, MS

Fine Furniture, Fabrics, & Flooring INSURANCE

I N S U L AT I O N

C ONCRETE

Mon.-Fri. 9am - 5pm

Hancock Insurance Agency INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

401 Elizabeth St. • Tupelo 662-842-7305 G IFTS

Member of the QCN Network. Saving You Money And Making You More Comfortable For Over 38 Years Residential & Commercial Insulation, Installation Blown-In Attic Insulation - Blown-in Wall Insulation - Batting www.nsul8or@att.net www.nsul8or.com

662-844-1306

3166 West Jackson, Tupelo, MS

Everything for

Fishing

Mostly New Sat. 7-11

104 St. Andrews Rd • Okolona, MS • (662)447-3711

Scott Hancock

Allen Hancock

Monthly Rates Available

662-534-2661 720 W. Bankhead St. New Albany

JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY

JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY

CHELSEA SPAIN

JESSICA HUNTER

PRINT

formerly Okolona Drug Co.

ATV • Life • Health Annuities • RV • Automobile Motorcycle • Home Mobile Home Medicare Supplements

ONLINE

INTERACTIVE

PRINT

ONLINE

INTERACTIVE

Multimedia/Inside Sales Consultant

Multimedia/Inside Sales Consultant

chelsea.spain@journalinc.com

jessica.hunter@journalinc.com

PO Box 909 Tupelo, MS | 38802-0909 1242 South Green Street Tupelo, MS | 38804

Phone 662.678.1533 or 1.800.270.2614 ext.533 Fax 662.620.8301

PO Box 909 Tupelo, MS | 38802-0909 1242 South Green Street Tupelo, MS | 38804

Phone 662.678.1538 or 1.800.270.2614 ext.538 Fax 662.620.8301

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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15

Business Directory KENNELS

L OCKSMITH

PRINTING

MILLER’S SAFE & LOCK SERVICE, INC.

arber Printing, Inc.

NEW & USED SAFES

• Safes Serviced & Installed • Locks Installed • Locksets • Combinations Changed • Locks Rekeyed • Lost Keys Replaced • Master Key Systems • High Security Keys AUTO RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL

brddgs@gmail.com www.dalinskennel.com

R E A L E S TAT E

(662) 842-7720

1219 ⁄2 NELLE STREET • TUPELO 1

PRINTING • GRAPHIC DESIGN • SIGNS BANNERS • BLACK & WHITE/COLOR COPIES 811 A Varsity Dr. • Tupelo, MS • 662.841.1584 8am - 4:30pm • goodimpressions@barberprinting.com

R E S TA U R A N T

R E S TA U R A N T

Party Trays for all Occasions!

Thinking of Selling Your Home or Property?

We Have Six Full-Time Agents Pontotoc Ridge Realty, Ltd. Who Call MOSSY OAK PROPERTIES OFFICE Pontotoc Home. ISEACH INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Call Us Today 662-489-2848 R E S TA U R A N T

1101 W. Main • Tupelo 842-3774

R E TA I L

Alternatives to Cigarettes

• Pizza Spaghetti • Salad Bar • Sandwich • Pasta Special Every Thursday

Ecigs, Mechanical Mods, Vapor Smokes, Tanks/Cartomizers, Ejuice, Blu, V2, Century 21 Ecigs

365-7059

ROOFING

W

HE

EL

ER

RO

INC.

OF

ING

“A Family Business Since 1946”

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial FREE Estimates LICENSED & INSURED

709 S 4th St. • Baldwyn, MS

411 CLARK ST. ❖ TUPELO ❖ 844-4481

Mon.-Thurs. 11-10 • Fri.-Sat. 11-11 • Sun. 12-10

TECHNOLOGY

499 Gloster Creek Village, Tupelo, MS 38801 Phone: (662) 844-4888 Fax: (662) 844-3006

TREE SERVICES

T RUCKING

Achieve greater network performance with less.

It's time to get more performance from your network with far less. As in less bandwidth utilization, fewer resources, and less cost.

CIRCADENCE R&D FACILITY

CDF BUILDING • 398 EAST MAIN ST., 2ND FLOOR • TUPELO, MS 38804 662-821-2500 • www.circadence.com

Trimming • Removal • Stump Grinding Hazardous Tree Removal Experts Free Estimates / Insured 24-HOUR SERVICE

3637 PEPPERTOWN ROAD FULTON, MS 38834 (662) 862-6497

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APRIL 2017

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