The Bottom Line: This year, March 21st is World Ag Day!
The Full Story:
This year, March 21st is World Ag Day! The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) is an organization composed of leaders in the agriculture, food and fiber communities. They started this celebration in 1973 to raise awareness how food, fiber and renewable resource products are produced – and to educate people about agriculture's vital role in our society. So yes – this year’s celebration is the 45th anniversary.
Why Celebrate Ag Day? Americans need to understand the value of agriculture in their daily lives. Here are just some of the key reasons why it's important to recognize - and celebrate - Ag Day each year:
- Increased knowledge of agriculture and nutrition allows individuals to make informed personal choices about diet and health.
- Informed citizens will be able to participate in establishing the policies that will support a competitive agricultural industry in this country and abroad.
- Agricultural literacy includes an understanding of agriculture’s history and current economic, social and environmental significance to all Americans. This understanding includes some knowledge of food and fiber production, processing and domestic and international marketing.
- Employment opportunities exist across the board in agriculture. Career choices include:
- farm production
- agribusiness management and marketing
- agricultural research and engineering
- food science
- processing and retailing
- banking
- education
- landscape architecture
- urban planning
- energy
The theme National Ag Day 2018 is "Agriculture: Food For Life,” and the much like every year, the goal of this day is to The National Ag Day program encourages every American 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.
Each American farmer feeds more than 165 people ... a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. Quite simply, American agriculture is doing more – and doing it better – so let’s cheer farmers on!