National Agriculture Week is March 18-25. This time provides us with the opportunity to pay tribute to the hard working, dedicated farmers and ranchers who supply our daily food and fiber needs.

As you show appreciation for the meal on your plate this week, I'd also invite you to thank an agricultural producer for their important contribution to our state's economy. Cash receipts from agriculture contributed $11 billion to Nebraska's economy in 2005. And a recent study showed one in three jobs in our state is tied to the agriculture industry.

These figures don't fully reflect the present upswing in commodity prices, or the surge in ethanol development over the past year. Both will continue to significantly impact the state's economy and the way our farmers and ranchers do business on a daily basis.

As we celebrate the current ethanol and commodity crop success, we need to be mindful that the livestock industry has played a key role in setting up the present circumstances for those two sectors. The expansion of the ethanol industry in Nebraska has been attributed, in large part, to our healthy livestock industry because livestock feeding is an important customer for the co-products created during ethanol production. The livestock sector also consumes at least a quarter of the corn grown here, as well as other crops like soybeans and grain sorghum.

This relationship, between grain, ethanol, and livestock, emphasizes our need to support each sector. Continued cooperative success will undoubtedly have a positive impact on rural main streets across our state. It will mean business for a variety of entities, from feed dealers, to co-ops, to welding shops, to caf´s, and seed corn salespersons.

A thriving agriculture industry doesn't just add to the bottom line for existing businesses, it also grows additional employment opportunities in our rural areas. These are positions like veterinarians, crop consultants, nutritionists, mechanics, bankers, and tax specialists jobs that provide opportunities for our sons, daughters, and grandchildren to remain in Nebraska and be successful in our rural communities.

For Nebraskans, the celebration of Agriculture Week should be more than just an acknowledgment of our farmers' and ranchers' efforts to provide a safe, affordable food supply. While that is still their focus, our agricultural producers also serve a key role as the economic backbone of our state. They are vital to a successful future in Nebraska. Agriculture truly is our state's rural development opportunity.

Please take a moment this week to thank our farmers and ranchers for their contributions and to consider how Nebraska would be different without them.

Below are some interesting facts about agriculture today. These points just scratch the surface of the advancements being made in agriculture on a daily basis. All Americans are asked to enjoy and admire the wonders of American agriculture as National Agriculture Day is celebrated on March 21.

General Statistics:

• Today's average farm is 441 acres compared to 147 acres in 1900.
• Today's farmer feeds about 144 people in the United States and abroad. In 1960, that number was 46.
• Forty-one percent of U.S. total land area is farmland.
• U.S. farmers account for 46% of the world's soybean production, 41% of the world's corn production, 20.5% of the world's cotton production, and 13% of the world's wheat production.
• Almost 99% of U.S. farms are operated by individuals or family corporations.
• Nearly 22 million people are employed in farm or farm-related jobs.
• U.S. consumers spend roughly 10% of their income on food compared with 22% in the United Kingdom, 26% in Japan, 28% in South Africa, and 51% in India.
• Farmers and ranchers provide food and habitat for 75% of the nation's wildlife.

Production Improvements:

• Farmers and ranchers are producing meat lower in fat and cholesterol. This has resulted in retail cuts that are 15% leaner, giving consumers better value for their dollar. For example, a pork tenderloin now has only one more gram of fat than a skinless chicken breast, one of the true fat "lightweights." Also, much leaner beef cuts are being produced than 20 years ago, resulting in 27% less fat reaching the retail case than in 1985.
• Biotechnology has resulted in better tasting fruits and vegetables that stay fresh longer and are naturally resistant to insects.
• Plant breeding has resulted in crops better able to handle the environmental affects of drought and disease and insect infestations resulting in higher yields at harvest and lower costs to the consumer.

Technology/Equipment Advancements:

• A growing number of farmers and ranchers are using computers and modern technology: 90.7% use a computer, 87.4% own a cellular telephone, 51.3% communicate by fax, 72.2% have access to the Internet, and 24.5% make on-line purchases using e-commerce.

New Uses

• Ethanol accounts for the largest industrial use of any commodity crop.
• With a record production of 2.81 billion gallons of ethanol in 2003, 1 billion bushels of corn and 12% of the grain sorghum crop were used to produce fuel for our vehicles. In 2003, 73 ethanol plants were in operation in the United States, with 14 new plants under construction.
• Biodiesel made from soybeans is one of many renewable fuels. Renewable fuels contribute to a cleaner environment, reduce pollution and reliance on foreign oil, and contribute to the stability of the rural farm economy by creating commercial markets for crops.
• Soybeans are used in the five major markets currently dependent on petroleum products including plastics, coatings and ink, adhesives, lubricants, and solvents.

National Ag Week with Governor Heineman

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National Ag Week with Assistant Director Moseman

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National Ag Day with Governor Heineman

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National Ag Day with Assistant Director Moseman

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