This Week's Herman Trend Alert Demand-Driven Workforce Development

The Herman Trend Alert November 14, 2007 Agriculture Will Continue to Boom With the growing demand for farm products, agriculture in the United States and elsewhere is booming. This boom in agricultural products, like corn, soybeans, wheat, produce, milk, and poultry, translates to big profits for farmers and many others in related industries, including food processing plants, trucking firms, railroads, and even equipment makers. In 2007, the USD$280 Billion sales in agriculture are up by 15 percent over 2006. Next year, they are expected to exceed USD$300 Billion. Net farm income this year is expected to hit the record level of USD$87 Billion; that is an impressive 50 percent increase over last year. Next year, the figure will undoubtedly increase again. Average crop prices are up by 20 percent over last year and will rise once more in 2008. Even prices for livestock are up 22 percent, especially from poultry. A combination of dynamics is producing this boom. First and most publicized, is the growing demand for biofuels. 25 percent of this fall's corn crop will go to ethanol production which by 2015 will require about 30 percent of the total corn crop. Second, there is an increasing demand for farm products from developing nations. Incomes are rising and the citizens have more disposable income to spend on better quality food. Asia and Latin America alone will add 700 Million new mouths to feed by 2020. Third, the less expensive dollar means that our exports compete more successfully on world markets. Fourth, according to the website Common Agricultural Policy, the European Union has "largely failed to respond to a booming global dairy market". Finally, on January 1st 2008, NAFTA will take full effect. This legislation will facilitate trade between the US and Mexico and a 15.1 percent increase in purchases. However, all of this industry growth is not without its challenges . . . the major one being the "people factor". Crops do not plant and harvest themselves. Midwest farmers from Kansas to North Dakota are importing farm workers from South Africa and elsewhere for short periods to supply the manpower needed. Agriculture is certainly an industry in a intensifying workforce crisis. © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND! If you've been thinking about attending our valuable Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program, don't delay--only three spaces remain. With the employment market heating up, many positions are literally impossible to fill. Attend this course and you will learn dozens of low-/no-cost valuable strategies to attract and retain the talent you need. Recertification credit from HRCI. Next program: May 22-23, Charleston, SC. Call Carol at 336-282-9370 or visit http://www.employeeretentionspecialist.com. GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. NEW BABY BONUS Book Joyce to speak on the West Coast in 2008 and receive 100 of her books of your choosing. There is a new baby in the family, Spencer Jay, and Joyce would appreciate more opportunities to watch him grow. For more about Joyce, visit http://www.hermangroup.com/joyce.html or call Joyce at 336-210-3548. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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