Celebrated since 1973, National Ag Day communicates the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products – an especially important message in times of crisis.
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) joined producers, agricultural associations and other organizations and individuals on Tuesday, March 24, to express support for U.S. farmers and agribusinesses and their essential role in maintaining the global supply chain.
“National Ag Day recognizes and celebrates the abundance provided by American agriculture,” said Darren Armstrong, USGC chairman and farmer from North Carolina. “This week, we show our appreciation to all of the individuals in agriculture that do their part to bring a product to plate or port.”
A new report, released on Monday, enumerates how U.S. agriculture underpins the U.S. economy. The “Feeding the Economy” study outlines how farmers and agribusinesses are responsible for roughly one-fifth of the U.S. economic activity – including direct output of 2.96 trillion, support for 23 million direct jobs and exports valued at $148.41 billion.
Roughly one in three U.S. farm acres is planted for export, further underpinning how trade helps to drive on-farm income. These markets are truly global – more than 95 percent of the world’s population lives outside of the United States and the world’s rising middle class dedicates more of their incomes to higher-value foods.
The Council’s mission is to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives. Through a full-time presence in 28 countries and programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union, USGC staff work every day with customers across the globe to help learn how to improve their operations and to provide information on how U.S. coarse grains, co-products and ethanol can aid them in this process. The sun truly never sets on the Council’s work with farmers and agribusinesses to capture this increased demand.
It’s not too late to join the National Ag Day celebration, using the hashtag #AgDay on social media.
Find out more about international trade and the Council’s work.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.