National Agriculture Week

This past week was National Agriculture Week. It is a week in March, set aside to to draw attention to the importance of agriculture and provide consumers with a reminder to think about the nation's farm families.

Did you know that agriculture generates 20% of the United States Gross Domestic Product? The farther away Americans get away from direct ties to the family farm, it is easy for them to forget just how much farmers do in the way of providing food, fiber & fuel for the general public. At present, each farmer produces enough to provide for 144 people. Compare this to the 1960's when each farmer provided enough for 25 people.

Americans only spend 9% of their income on food, compared to 22% in the UK, 26% in Japan, and 55% in Indonesia. In Wisconsin, agriculture generates more than $51 billion in economic activity and provides jobs for 12% of the state's workforce.

Just a little food for thought...