A Week Dedicated to Agriculture

Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis, and is increasingly contributing to fuel and other bioproducts.

Taking the time to celebrate this industry helps educate millions of consumers each year, which is why, this week, we celebrate everyone who has a role in the agriculture industry as part of National Agriculture Week. Each year, the Agriculture Council of America hosts National Agriculture Week and National Agriculture Day (March 15) as a way to recognize and celebrate the contribution of agriculture to America. It encourages people to:

• Understand how food and fiber products are produced
• Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy
• Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products

Agriculture Industry Facts (Corn & Soybean Digest):

• There are 2.13 million farms in the U.S. today. This compares to 6.8 million farms in 1930, 4 million farms in 1960 and 2.4 million farms in 1980.
• The top five agriculture products in the U.S. are corn, soybeans, cattle and calves, dairy products and broilers.
• The U.S. produces 46 percent of the world’s soybeans, 41 percent of the world’s corn, 20 percent of the world’s cotton and 13 percent of the world’s wheat.
• 99 percent of all U.S. farms are family farm businesses owned by individuals, partnerships and family corporations. These family based farm enterprises account for about 94 percent of all the U.S. agricultural products that are sold each year.
• From 1997 to 2002, the number of farms operated by women increased 12.6 percent.
• The U.S. agriculture industry employs more than 22 million Americans to produce, process, sell and trade the nation’s food and fiber. This represents approximately 16 to 17 percent of the total U.S. workforce.
• The average U.S. farmer produces enough food and fiber for about 150 people. This number was 19 people in 1940, 46 people in 1960 and 115 people in 1980.

The need for people to understand the value of agriculture in their daily lives is great. People who are informed about the industry will be able to participate in establishing the policies that will support a competitive agricultural industry in Ohio, the U.S. and abroad.

To learn more about activities that can be planned this week, visit www.agday.org.

Are you doing anything special this week to celebrate National Agriculture Week? How has agriculture touched you today? Are you attending any events to celebrate National Agriculture Week?

Photo obtained from: commerce.idaho.gov