Bob Dole: “over 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote ``Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens.'' Much has changed…”

“over 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote ``Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens.'' Much has changed in America since Thomas Jefferson's day, but one thing that has not changed is the fact his words are still true--the members of America's agriculture community are some of the most valuable and important citizens of this country. Today is National Agriculture Day--a day for honoring farmers and ranchers across the United States who dedicate their lives to food production. It is their devotion to the land that serves as a reminder of the spirit our forefathers instilled in each of us--the spirit of hard work and the perseverance to deal with the hand Mother Nature deals them. America's first farmers worried about feeding their families. Today, American agriculture feeds the world. Biotechnology has allowed farmers to yield food products more efficiently, more safely, and at a lower cost. Now that NAFTA has been negotiated and passed, and with completion of the GATT imminent, we are about to embark upon a new era for agriculture trade.”