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March 20-26 is National Agriculture Week in 2005. These links provide a few starting points for additional information. March 17, 2005 is designated as National Ag Day .
AG DAY (Agricultural Council of America)
National Ag Day and the America's Largest Classroom on Agriculture Campaign are organized by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA). ACA is a non-profit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing ag literacy.
For more than 225 years, agriculture has been the vital thread in the fabric of our nation. America's farm and ranch families represent the cornerstone of our freedom and way of life - now and in the future.
Two generations ago, more than 30 million Americans lived on farms and ranches. Today only 4.6 million Americans share that heritage. Today our nation has less than 2 million farms, down substantially from the peak of 6.8 million farms in 1935. Although the numbers are down, America's family farmers continue to be more efficient. Contrary to popular belief that family farms are long-gone, 90 percent of U.S. farms are operated by individuals or family corporations. Many more people are employed in the agricultural sector. Fifteen percent of the U.S. population is employed in farm or farm-related jobs, including production agriculture, farm inputs, processing, marketing, and wholesale and retail sales.
Farmers and ranchers maintain their prominent place in our society, in part, by providing the American people with an abundant supply of safe, high-quality food. Our farm community contributions allow American consumers to enjoy a quality of life that is the envy of the world. American agriculture is so successful that the essential role played by farmers and ranchers in our economy is often taken for granted.
Americans have numerous opportunities each day to remember the nation's farm and ranch families -- the day's first glass of cold milk or orange juice, the vast array of fruits and vegetables, the juicy steak, pork chop or chicken breast on your dinner table.
Beyond food, many aspects of our daily lives are connected to what happens on America's farms and ranches -- from building materials and medicine to paper and ink. Don't forget your favorite cotton shirt that started in a farm field or the fuel in your car that contains ethanol made from American grain. Our health is our greatest agricultural success story, because of our diet and discoveries in disease prevention.
Agriculture will play an even bigger role in our everyday lives as technology helps develop new uses and specialized products from our farm commodities. Research and advancements in biotechnology are now in the market place with tastier fruits and vegetables that stay fresh longer and are not damaged by insects. A new technique called "precision farming" boosts crop yields and reduces waste by using satellite maps and computers to match seed, fertilizer and crop protector applications to local soil conditions.
The future is bright for America's consumers and farmers.
That's why Farm Bureau is proud to join in the commemoration of National Ag Week (March 18-24) and National Ag Day (March 20). These days celebrate the dedication of the men and women involved in American agriculture. It's an opportunity for Americans to re-discover the role agriculture plays in our everyday lives. It offers insight on what's required to feed our growing world. Americans must never forget that farmers' and ranchers' contributions are the key element to our future as a nation.