Too often, the only times our non-farm neighbors hear about agriculture is when there is economic crisis on the farm, or when some interest group objects to some agricultural practice. The end result, I fear, is that too many people develop the idea that 21st century farmers are helpless victims and/or heartless villains.
That’s why I feel that the time around National Agriculture Day, March 20, is a great time to politely correct the misperceptions about agriculture among those non-farm neighbors.
The reality is agriculture is a powerhouse that provides jobs, money and energy to our state economy. It’s a dynamic industry full of growth and change, and yet unlike many other industries, it remains blessed with an abundance of small family-run businesses. We have our share of challenges, but we also (literally) have a world of opportunity ahead in the form of a growing world population and expanding global trade.
During this time of high unemployment when we need to put so many of our fellow citizens back to work, National Agriculture Day 2010 seems like the perfect time to emphasize the jobs impact of agriculture.
• The farm and food sector provides more jobs (an estimated 367,000) than all other Minnesota economic sectors aside from manufacturing;
• One of every five jobs in Minnesota exists thanks to the farm and food sector;
• Every agricultural production job supports an additional 1.5 jobs in all economic sectors; and
• More than 80 percent of all agricultural jobs are off the farm, in sectors such as processing, distribution, supply and service.
Of course, Minnesota farmers and agricultural businesses provide us with more than jobs. We Americans enjoy the world’s most abundant — and inexpensive — food supply.
How abundant? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average 1960s farmer grew enough food to feed 26 people. Today, the average farmer feeds 144 people. According to another estimate, farmers now grow twice as much food as their parents did, using on average less land, water, fertilizers and pesticides.
How inexpensive? The USDA reports that the average American family spends less of its total household expenditure on food than do families in nearly any other country.
Common ground isn’t so common in today’s public discourse, even (sadly) in agriculture. But no matter what your views on economics, biotechnology or world trade, I think we can all agree on three things. First, American agriculture is a modern miracle of productivity; second, that amazing productivity allows the vast majority of Americans to enjoy a quality of life unimaginable to nearly all previous generations; and third, we owe our thanks to the farmers, processors and others in the food sector who work so hard to deliver that abundant, varied, wholesome and inexpensive food supply to our tables.
•••
This commentary was submitted by Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson.
In 2008, Dan Mathews, vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said, "when you consider any movement for social change, it's really got to be seen as a generational one.
"If we as eaters insist on food being a smaller and smaller percentage of our spendable income by continuing to separate ourselves from the source of that food, it will become a race to the bottom for agriculture, for rural communities, and for everyone's quality of life."
Agriculture is a dynamic industry full of growth and change, and yet unlike many other industries, it remains blessed with an abundance of small family-run businesses.
As Obama’s energy taxes force reductions in coal and oil production, the price of U.S. energy will double and triple — and so will the costs of the things we buy.
The cost of the “free wind”? Projections are about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour — far higher than other energy sources. One of my neighbors has just invested $100,000 in a wind turbine. I think he’s wasted his money — and some of yours.
The earthquake in Haiti was a devastating blow — but we don’t know how to prevent earthquakes. On the other hand, we do know how to prevent 500,000 kids from going blind every year, and even dying, due to severe Vitamin A deficiency. But we’re not preventing the blindness or the deaths.
It is increasingly important to remember that almost any human activity of any size or consequence will have both negative and positive externalities. Perhaps the reason for little acknowledgment of the positive externalities is that they are the raison d’être for the activity in the first place.
The USDA seems to expect serious climate-related farming problems ahead, but the recent changes in global climate have been tiny — and in the “wrong” direction.
Commentary
Discussion
Commentary: Ag needs to toot its own horn
Originally published in the March 19, 2010, print edition.
Too often, the only times our non-farm neighbors hear about agriculture is when there is economic crisis on the farm, or when some interest group objects to some agricultural practice. The end result, I fear, is that too many people develop the idea that 21st century farmers are helpless victims and/or heartless villains.
That’s why I feel that the time around National Agriculture Day, March 20, is a great time to politely correct the misperceptions about agriculture among those non-farm neighbors.
The reality is agriculture is a powerhouse that provides jobs, money and energy to our state economy. It’s a dynamic industry full of growth and change, and yet unlike many other industries, it remains blessed with an abundance of small family-run businesses. We have our share of challenges, but we also (literally) have a world of opportunity ahead in the form of a growing world population and expanding global trade.
During this time of high unemployment when we need to put so many of our fellow citizens back to work, National Agriculture Day 2010 seems like the perfect time to emphasize the jobs impact of agriculture.
• The farm and food sector provides more jobs (an estimated 367,000) than all other Minnesota economic sectors aside from manufacturing;
• One of every five jobs in Minnesota exists thanks to the farm and food sector;
• Every agricultural production job supports an additional 1.5 jobs in all economic sectors; and
• More than 80 percent of all agricultural jobs are off the farm, in sectors such as processing, distribution, supply and service.
Of course, Minnesota farmers and agricultural businesses provide us with more than jobs. We Americans enjoy the world’s most abundant — and inexpensive — food supply.
How abundant? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average 1960s farmer grew enough food to feed 26 people. Today, the average farmer feeds 144 people. According to another estimate, farmers now grow twice as much food as their parents did, using on average less land, water, fertilizers and pesticides.
How inexpensive? The USDA reports that the average American family spends less of its total household expenditure on food than do families in nearly any other country.
Common ground isn’t so common in today’s public discourse, even (sadly) in agriculture. But no matter what your views on economics, biotechnology or world trade, I think we can all agree on three things. First, American agriculture is a modern miracle of productivity; second, that amazing productivity allows the vast majority of Americans to enjoy a quality of life unimaginable to nearly all previous generations; and third, we owe our thanks to the farmers, processors and others in the food sector who work so hard to deliver that abundant, varied, wholesome and inexpensive food supply to our tables.
•••
This commentary was submitted by Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson.
In 2008, Dan Mathews, vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said, "when you consider any movement for social change, it's really got to be seen as a generational one.
June 18, 2010
Biologists are again predicting massive species losses as the world warms. But where are the corpses?
June 18, 2010
"If we as eaters insist on food being a smaller and smaller percentage of our spendable income by continuing to separate ourselves from the source of that food, it will become a race to the bottom for agriculture, for rural communities, and for everyone's quality of life."
May 21, 2010
Agriculture is a dynamic industry full of growth and change, and yet unlike many other industries, it remains blessed with an abundance of small family-run businesses.
April 8, 2010
As Obama’s energy taxes force reductions in coal and oil production, the price of U.S. energy will double and triple — and so will the costs of the things we buy.
April 8, 2010
The cost of the “free wind”? Projections are about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour — far higher than other energy sources. One of my neighbors has just invested $100,000 in a wind turbine. I think he’s wasted his money — and some of yours.
February 26, 2010
The earthquake in Haiti was a devastating blow — but we don’t know how to prevent earthquakes. On the other hand, we do know how to prevent 500,000 kids from going blind every year, and even dying, due to severe Vitamin A deficiency. But we’re not preventing the blindness or the deaths.
February 12, 2010
Public deserves science-driven review of pesticide’s health, environmental impacts.
January 29, 2010
It is increasingly important to remember that almost any human activity of any size or consequence will have both negative and positive externalities. Perhaps the reason for little acknowledgment of the positive externalities is that they are the raison d’être for the activity in the first place.
January 29, 2010
The USDA seems to expect serious climate-related farming problems ahead, but the recent changes in global climate have been tiny — and in the “wrong” direction.
January 29, 2010
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