PERRYVILLE – Our changing economy illustrates how agriculture impacts our lives now more than ever. Thanks to Missouri farmers, consumer have food and goods choices that are locally sourced. Consumers around the world enjoy what our farmers and ranchers produce. Missouri Farm Bureau, Perry County Farm Bureau and county Farm Bureau’s across the state are joining forces to celebrate the importance of agriculture, February 27-March 5, during Celebrate Agriculture: Thank a Farmer Week!
In honor of Thank A Farmer Week, accurate agriculture books have been donated by Perry County Farm Bureau to the Riverside Regional Library in Perryville and the Perry County School District #32 primary library. Check out the book, “The Fabulous, Fantastic Field Trip to the Dairy Farm” by Karla Deaver, 4-H Youth Specialist; Illustrated by Vicki Bean – Join Lori and her classmates on a trip to her family’s dairy farm. Also, Ag students read this book to Kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms during the week.
According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the number of farms in Missouri dropped from 99,171 on 28.5 million acres of land in 2012 to 95,320 on 27.8 million acres. Despite the drop in farm numbers and acreage, Missouri continues to rank among the top 10 states in production of major commodities and provides an $88.4 billion economic impact.
America’s farms and farmers are the most productive in the world. Each farm annually produces enough food and fiber for 172 people, 106 in the U.S. and 66 abroad. American consumers benefit from this bounty, yet spend only about 10 percent of their disposable income on food. By 2050 the global population is expected to increase to 9.3 billion people. Farmers will have to grow about 60 percent more food than is now produced.
With all that they produce, it is remarkable that farm and ranch families account for less than 2 percent of the U.S. population. Across the United States, there are 2 million farms with 3.4 million farm operators. This number includes owners, their families, hired workers, tenants and renters or sharecroppers. Many farms today find multiple generations working together to produce food and fiber.
“Agriculture is important to our daily lives and our community. Because 98 percent of the population doesn’t farm, it is easy to take for granted the importance of our farmers,” Dianna Koenig and June Ernst, Perry County Promotion & Education co-chairs say. “Celebrate Agriculture: Thank a Farmer Week is a great time to recognize the important contribution made by farmers!”
So, join Perry County Farm Bureau as we Celebrate agriculture and Thank a Farmer.