Agriculture Today - March 2009

National Agriculture Day is March 20

National Agriculture Day occurs every year on March 20, the first day of spring. Ag Day honors agriculture for providing safe, abundant and affordable food and fiber products, a strong economy, a source of renewable energy and a world of job opportunities.

Locally, Fresno County Farm Bureau, Central Valley Chapter of California Women for Agriculture and the Fresno County Agriculture Commissioner’s office presented a resolution to the Fresno City Council on Tuesday, March 17. The resolution emphasizes Fresno County’s number one position as the nation’s leading food and fiber producer and the importance of agriculture to the local and regional economies.

Fresno County’s diversified agricultural industry is part of a national agricultural industry that is doing more – and doing it more efficiently – than ever before. Today, each American farmer feeds more than 144 people. In 1960, each farmer fed 46 people. Innovations in farming techniques and technology have increased efficiency in the food production process.

“The agriculture industry is the foundation of our nations, our regions and our county’s economy, and farmers are essential to keeping that economy strong,” said Ryan Jacobsen, FCFB executive director.

Today, more than 22 million people work in the agriculture industry. This includes careers in everything from food chemistry to banking to water management to marketing. And the job descriptions of tomorrow’s agriculture professionals may look quite different due to advances in farming technology and the broad opportunities that extend far beyond the field.

In addition to the Fresno City resolution, events will be held in Sacramento on Tuesday, March 24. The “Ag Day at the Capitol” will be held at the State Capitol and will feature educational booths and displays, presentations and activities emphasizing the important statewide role of agriculture.

National Agriculture Day is organized by the Agricultural Council of America, a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society.

Resolution for National Agriculture Day 2009

WHEREAS, American agriculture celebrated its first National Agriculture Day in 1973 and the 2009 National Agriculture Day program celebrates America's diversity of people, cultures, commodities and landscapes involved in agriculture; and

WHEREAS, the diversity of crops, jobs and career opportunities, and economic activity generated by the value-added products produced on the nation’s farms provide the necessities of everyday life...food, fiber and clothing; and

WHEREAS, more than 22 million people are employed in farm or farm-related jobs, including production agriculture, farm inputs, processing and marketing, and wholesale and retail sales; and

WHEREAS, American agriculture is #1 in exports, meeting the increasing needs of consumers throughout the world by producing larger quantities of higher quality food and fiber; and

WHEREAS, U.S. consumers spend roughly 10 percent of their income on food compared with 22 percent in the United Kingdom, 26 percent in Japan, 28 percent in South Africa and 51 percent in India; and

WHEREAS, the men and women who practice environmental stewardship and produce and harvest America’s agricultural products are world renowned for growing healthy, wholesome, high quality, and efficiently produced food, fiber, and value-added products which sustain our citizens and those worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Fresno County and City are located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, which is one of five Mediterranean growing regions of the world known for its fertile soils, long growing seasons, and water supply and efficient irrigation practices; and

WHEREAS, Fresno farmers and farm workers are critically important to the economy of the City and County of Fresno, the San Joaquin Valley, the State of California, the United States and the world, generating value-added food and fiber products, thousands of jobs and providing food security to residents of the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, the County of Fresno produced more than $5.3 billion in agricultural production in 2007 and is the number one food and fiber producing county in the State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, every dollar produced on a Fresno farm or ranch results in the economic extension benefit of $3.50 to the total economy of the country; and

WHEREAS, the County of Fresno’s top ten commodities for 2007 were grapes, almonds, milk, poultry, tomatoes, cattle and calves, cotton, peaches, oranges and garlic; and

WHEREAS, the production of one Fresno farmer provides food for 144 people, and

WHEREAS, a special activity is planned for Friday, March 20 when more than 2,100 third graders from throughout Fresno County will converge at the Fresno Fairgrounds for the 2009 Farm and Nutrition Day to learn more about how their nutritious food is produced in Fresno County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fresno City Council does hereby proclaim March 15-21, 2009:

NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK in the CITY of FRESNO

and encourages all citizens to be appreciative of the contributions to Fresno from the men and women of Fresno County’s agricultural industry, and to help support the County’s number one industry.