On the recordMarch 18, 2015
As a third-generation farmer from Washington State, I am amazed by the level of progress our Nation's agricultural community has made, even in just my lifetime. It is because of this great progress that today we celebrate March 18 as National Agriculture Day. Few people realize that during the 1960s the average American farmer fed 25 people. Today it is 144 people. The difference is that today our farmers are growing more disease- and pest-resistant crops that require less water and pesticides and better conserve our natural resources. Advancements in technology and technique have allowed our farmers to continue the long-held tradition of caring for the land they use and the people they grow for. On National Agriculture Day, please join me in recognizing our farming community and the essential role they continue to fill in feeding our Nation and the world. ____________________
