With the recent buzz about the Biotech Labeling Solutions Act (also known as the "Dark Act"), anti-agriculture propagandists such as Food Babe, The Non-GMO Project, Food Integrity Now, and others have campaigned to make the American agriculture industry look like "Factory Farms" partnered with biotech companies to make the quickest buck with no concerns about consumer safety. It's tragic that these entities have this vision of what the industry is, and feel the need to spread their false definitions to whoever is willing to listen. As someone who has been exposed to agriculture since Day 1, I have a definition that is a little bit different than those recently portrayed.
Advancement- Everyday thousands of professionals spend hours in labs or workshops finding the next technology or innovation that is going to take the industry to the next level. With a population that is expected to reach 9 billion in less that 50 years, American Agriculturalists know that only way to fight world hunger is continue to advance from where we are today.
God- We give Him thanks for the bountiful times. We seek His Guidance when things get tough. We know that every step we take on this earth, He is walking right beside us, if not a few steps ahead. He put us on this earth to feed His people, and we obediently comply to His commands. We have seen His glory and beauty everyday and rely on our relationship with Him each and every day.
Resourceful-Less than 9% of the total Greenhouse Gas emissions come from agriculture production. Pig Farmers use 41% less water than they did 50 years ago. The carbon footprint from Dairy farming is 60% less than it was 60 years ago. In 40 years, the beef industry has reduced land usage by 33%. Farmers are stewards of the land, as the land is what they rely on for their jobs.
Integrity- The food farmers produce on their farms not only end up on consumers plates, but the plates of their families and friends as well. Farmers go to great lengths to ensure the food they are producing is safe and wholesome to whoever consumes it. They stand behind their practices, and would not purposely do anything on their farms that would hinder the integrity of the food they produce.
Community- 1% of the U.S. Population feeds the other 99%. In order to fulfill the demands of the public, farmers and ranchers have to work together to keep Americans clothed and fed. When someone is down, someone else is there offering a hand to help them back up. The sense of community within the Agriculture industry is one that cannot be easily described or observed by an outsider.
Unselfishness-Americans do not take a day off from eating, which means the agriculture industry does not take a day off from producing food and fiber. Holidays, birthdays, and family time are put on hold until the work is done for the day. No day is too hot or too cold, too windy or too wet to stop farmers from working. As long as people continue to eat (which will be forever), farmers will continue to make sacrifices.
Leading-American farmers produce 46% of the world's soybeans and 41% of the world's corn. The U.S. is #1 in beef production, #1 in milk production#2 in pork production, #2 in egg production, #2 in poultry meat production, and #3 in cotton production. We are a dominant figure feeding and clothing the globe, and will continue to do so for years to come.
Teachers-In order to keep the industry moving forward, it's essential to get the next generation excited about food production. Organizations such as FFA and 4-H not only expose millions of youth across the country to agriculture but also instill valuable life-skills and work ethics that are needed to keep the industry alive and thriving.
Understanding-Everything isn't always fair. Bad things happen to good people. It's all just a part of life, and sometimes there is nothing you can do about it. Floods destroy crops, calves don't make it through the night, markets tank, and so much more. Farmers understand this concept of uncertainty. They understand it, and know that you can't dwell on it. If you want to progress you take a deep breath, learn from the past, and keep moving forward.
Reliable-The USDA and FDA spend millions of dollars each year researching the safety of the food produced in the U.S., both organic and conventional, with GMO's or without. Their job is to ensure the food that ends up on your plate will not harm you, relying on proper food handling and preparation practices on your part. They want you to feel safe when you are grocery shopping or sitting down at a restaurant with your family . They want you to be able to rely on American producers to keep you fed, and not worry about what you're putting into your body. Personally, I think they have done an impeccable job thus far.
Efficient-The average American Farmer feeds 155 people each year. One acre of corn yields 160 bushels. The average litter of pigs is 10-12 piglets per sow. One dairy cow can produce 8 gallons of milk a day. All these stats are about double what they were half a century ago, with about 1 million acres of farmland lost every 2 years. Simply put: the American Industry is making more with less. If efficiency was not continuously improving, the food supply would be tight and a lot more people would be hungry.
Well now that you know what Agriculture really means, I hope you will remember this definition when you are reading an article on the internet that tries to sway you away from the truth. It's easy to complain on a full stomach. It's easy to forget how much care and dedication goes into your food when you don't see it every day. That does not mean farmers are evil or the enemy. They keep you fed and clothed, with little to no thanks ever received.
*Facts and Statistics found at:
www.fb.org
www.pork.org
www.beefusa.org
www.aeb.org
www.adadc.org
www.amerpoultryassn.com
www.ncga.com
www.unitedsoybean.org
Advancement- Everyday thousands of professionals spend hours in labs or workshops finding the next technology or innovation that is going to take the industry to the next level. With a population that is expected to reach 9 billion in less that 50 years, American Agriculturalists know that only way to fight world hunger is continue to advance from where we are today.
God- We give Him thanks for the bountiful times. We seek His Guidance when things get tough. We know that every step we take on this earth, He is walking right beside us, if not a few steps ahead. He put us on this earth to feed His people, and we obediently comply to His commands. We have seen His glory and beauty everyday and rely on our relationship with Him each and every day.
Resourceful-Less than 9% of the total Greenhouse Gas emissions come from agriculture production. Pig Farmers use 41% less water than they did 50 years ago. The carbon footprint from Dairy farming is 60% less than it was 60 years ago. In 40 years, the beef industry has reduced land usage by 33%. Farmers are stewards of the land, as the land is what they rely on for their jobs.
Integrity- The food farmers produce on their farms not only end up on consumers plates, but the plates of their families and friends as well. Farmers go to great lengths to ensure the food they are producing is safe and wholesome to whoever consumes it. They stand behind their practices, and would not purposely do anything on their farms that would hinder the integrity of the food they produce.
Community- 1% of the U.S. Population feeds the other 99%. In order to fulfill the demands of the public, farmers and ranchers have to work together to keep Americans clothed and fed. When someone is down, someone else is there offering a hand to help them back up. The sense of community within the Agriculture industry is one that cannot be easily described or observed by an outsider.
Unselfishness-Americans do not take a day off from eating, which means the agriculture industry does not take a day off from producing food and fiber. Holidays, birthdays, and family time are put on hold until the work is done for the day. No day is too hot or too cold, too windy or too wet to stop farmers from working. As long as people continue to eat (which will be forever), farmers will continue to make sacrifices.
Leading-American farmers produce 46% of the world's soybeans and 41% of the world's corn. The U.S. is #1 in beef production, #1 in milk production#2 in pork production, #2 in egg production, #2 in poultry meat production, and #3 in cotton production. We are a dominant figure feeding and clothing the globe, and will continue to do so for years to come.
Teachers-In order to keep the industry moving forward, it's essential to get the next generation excited about food production. Organizations such as FFA and 4-H not only expose millions of youth across the country to agriculture but also instill valuable life-skills and work ethics that are needed to keep the industry alive and thriving.
Understanding-Everything isn't always fair. Bad things happen to good people. It's all just a part of life, and sometimes there is nothing you can do about it. Floods destroy crops, calves don't make it through the night, markets tank, and so much more. Farmers understand this concept of uncertainty. They understand it, and know that you can't dwell on it. If you want to progress you take a deep breath, learn from the past, and keep moving forward.
Reliable-The USDA and FDA spend millions of dollars each year researching the safety of the food produced in the U.S., both organic and conventional, with GMO's or without. Their job is to ensure the food that ends up on your plate will not harm you, relying on proper food handling and preparation practices on your part. They want you to feel safe when you are grocery shopping or sitting down at a restaurant with your family . They want you to be able to rely on American producers to keep you fed, and not worry about what you're putting into your body. Personally, I think they have done an impeccable job thus far.
Efficient-The average American Farmer feeds 155 people each year. One acre of corn yields 160 bushels. The average litter of pigs is 10-12 piglets per sow. One dairy cow can produce 8 gallons of milk a day. All these stats are about double what they were half a century ago, with about 1 million acres of farmland lost every 2 years. Simply put: the American Industry is making more with less. If efficiency was not continuously improving, the food supply would be tight and a lot more people would be hungry.
Well now that you know what Agriculture really means, I hope you will remember this definition when you are reading an article on the internet that tries to sway you away from the truth. It's easy to complain on a full stomach. It's easy to forget how much care and dedication goes into your food when you don't see it every day. That does not mean farmers are evil or the enemy. They keep you fed and clothed, with little to no thanks ever received.
*Facts and Statistics found at:
www.fb.org
www.pork.org
www.beefusa.org
www.aeb.org
www.adadc.org
www.amerpoultryassn.com
www.ncga.com
www.unitedsoybean.org