Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to recognize an industry that has helped shape our country since the days of our Founding Fathers. This industry is part of the very fabric of my home State of Nebraska and of many States. It drives our economy, fosters ingenuity, and preserves the value of a handshake in our society. I am speaking about agriculture, an industry near and dear to this farm boy's heart. What better time to celebrate the remarkable advances in agriculture than National Ag Week. It is not because of my roots on a farm, nor my time as Secretary of Agriculture that I am inspired to speak today. It is because of the remarkable men and women who rise before the sun each morning to feed the world. They provide safe, abundant, and affordable food, fiber, and fuel. They are stewards of our natural resources and drivers of innovation. More than 2 million farmers and ranchers contribute more than $300 billion to the U.S. economy each year. In Nebraska alone, agriculture contributes over $15 billion to the State's economy. Our leading commodities include: cattle, corn, soybeans, hogs, wheat, dairy products, and the list goes on and on. It is estimated that each American farmer feeds more than 144 people, a dramatic increase from just 25 people per farmer in the 1960s. And, as our population and the global population continue to grow, demand for our food, fiber, and fuel products is growing, not just at home but around the globe.…”