Submitted by The Global Harvest Initiative
This is the third year in a row that the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) has sponsored the National Ag Day events in Washington D.C., and we applaud the efforts of the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) as it educates millions of young Americans on the contributions of agriculture today, and the importance of agriculture tomorrow to meet the needs of a growing world. This is especially important for the next generation, who represent the future of agriculture as the producers, business leaders, professors and policy makers of tomorrow.
GHI believes that it is critical to raise the visibility of food security and agricultural challenges, and to enhance our ability to address them through collaboration, partnerships and dialogue.
Unlike ever before, digital media is empowering every global citizen—from smallholder farmers to heads of state—to take an active role in the global conversation on agriculture. For example, there are now more than 800 million Facebook users and more than 100 million active Twitter users. Of the 7 billion global citizens today, 4.8 billion own a mobile device. These trends indicate how this generation, and the next, will communicate the importance of agriculture and collaborate to address hunger and global food security challenges.
As the world’s population moves rapidly to an estimated 9+ billion people by 2050, the challenges of meeting future agricultural demand are great. We believe this marks an incredible opportunity for future agriculture leaders, both here in the U.S. and abroad, to address global food security and agricultural productivity challenges in new and innovative ways, from research and technologies, to an unprecedented level of collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Meeting tomorrow’s global agricultural demand won’t be easy, but with young, talented minds working together, the GHI is confident that the challenges can be met.
We encourage you to join GHI’s online communities on Facebook and Twitter, where we will continue the conversation about meeting the agricultural needs of tomorrow. You can also visit us online at www.globalharvestinitiative.org to read our Harvest2050 blog, watch videos and view the latest news clips, reports and resources.
About The Global Harvest Initiative:
Established in 2009, The Global Harvest Initiative is a partnership among DuPont, IBM, John Deere and Monsanto with the goal of addressing hunger and food security by sustainably closing the global agricultural productivity gap. Every year, GHI releases its signature GAP Report™, an annual benchmark of the global rate of agricultural productivity.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Agriculture Counts on Ag Day ... and Every Other Day
Submitted by Renee Picanso, USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service
National Ag Day is about recognizing and celebrating the important contributions of America's farmers and ranchers as well as the 3 million hard-working producers that feed the other 300 million of us. And we're proud, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, to be a sponsor of the 2012 National Ag Day program.
Many know us for the Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years, the Census is a complete count of America's farms and ranches. Without it, we wouldn't know that 3 million producers farm this land of ours. Knowing that 1 percent of the U.S. population feeds the other 99 percent of us is pretty amazing. But there's more to the story if you dig a little deeper.
From the 2007 Census of Agriculture, we learned that the hand that feeds us is changing. The number of women farmers grew by 30 percent between 2002 and 2007, and Hispanic farmers increased by 10 percent during that same period of time. The point is, the diversity of agriculture is constantly changing and the Census plays an important role in showing us how.
Since we're on the subject of National Ag Day, think about the fun facts and figures you'll hear as proof points to agriculture's importance this week. Things like the number of eggs produced annually, strawberry production in Florida or pumpkins grown in Ohio will be thrown around like candy at a parade.
These all come from the Census and other NASS data products we produce from talking to the very farmers we're honoring this week. The good news is the 2012 Census of Agriculture is right around the corner, giving farmers another opportunity to be counted. To make sure you are counted in the Census, sign up today!
One of the coolest things about National Ag Day is learning more about the amazing story of America's farmers and ranchers. But knowing that we play a small role in telling their story through the information we collect from farmers makes it even cooler.
Happy Ag Day, everyone!
National Ag Day is about recognizing and celebrating the important contributions of America's farmers and ranchers as well as the 3 million hard-working producers that feed the other 300 million of us. And we're proud, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, to be a sponsor of the 2012 National Ag Day program.
Many know us for the Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years, the Census is a complete count of America's farms and ranches. Without it, we wouldn't know that 3 million producers farm this land of ours. Knowing that 1 percent of the U.S. population feeds the other 99 percent of us is pretty amazing. But there's more to the story if you dig a little deeper.
From the 2007 Census of Agriculture, we learned that the hand that feeds us is changing. The number of women farmers grew by 30 percent between 2002 and 2007, and Hispanic farmers increased by 10 percent during that same period of time. The point is, the diversity of agriculture is constantly changing and the Census plays an important role in showing us how.
Since we're on the subject of National Ag Day, think about the fun facts and figures you'll hear as proof points to agriculture's importance this week. Things like the number of eggs produced annually, strawberry production in Florida or pumpkins grown in Ohio will be thrown around like candy at a parade.
These all come from the Census and other NASS data products we produce from talking to the very farmers we're honoring this week. The good news is the 2012 Census of Agriculture is right around the corner, giving farmers another opportunity to be counted. To make sure you are counted in the Census, sign up today!
One of the coolest things about National Ag Day is learning more about the amazing story of America's farmers and ranchers. But knowing that we play a small role in telling their story through the information we collect from farmers makes it even cooler.
Happy Ag Day, everyone!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Farming Technology At Its Best
Submitted by Lindsey Loving, International Food Information Council & Alliance to Feed the Future
I recently had the opportunity to visit a farm for the first time ... ever. Sure, I'd driven by farms and seen the cattle grazing and the fields with row upon row of corn and cotton. But I never had an up-close and personal look, until now. I was amazed by the efficiency with which the cows were milked and the pride the farmers took in their work. But one of the most striking things was how far agricultural technology has come, and how that technology enables farmers to do their jobs more efficiently than ever before.
For example, one farm I visited had 4,500 acres of land for growing corn and soybeans. To farm all that land, there were about a dozen people. My math skills aren't great, but that seems like a lot of land per person! This level of efficiency would have been impossible 50 years ago. When you see the old and the new farming machinery—planters, irrigators, combines, etc.—side by side, the difference is truly remarkable. And yet, it is still a very similar process with the same basic tasks as before; only faster and on a larger scale (and less back pain). Ultimately, improvements in farming technology now make it possible to obtain more food from the land, with less food waste and less loss of natural resources. In addition, techniques such as biotechnology, used by some farmers, make it possible to reduce pesticide and herbicide applications, which research shows consumers are looking for in foods they buy for themselves.
If I had to choose between the “old” way of doing things and the new, I would definitely pick the new. After all, who doesn't want their job to be easier (I don't know what I would do if I had to revert back to “snail mail” and fax machines)!
One thing I can say for sure is that farmers work hard! There are no sick days or snow days in farming. The animals need to be fed and tended to every day. Even when farmers aren't planting or harvesting, there is planning and maintenance to be done on the equipment and vast acres of land, even on the bitterest of cold days (like the day I visited).
For the farmers I met, farming is a personally rewarding and fulfilling career. After seeing what a big job farming is, I appreciate more than ever that I don't have to grow my own food, and I have a greater appreciation for the farmers who work 24/7 to provide food for the world. We all benefit from their hard work!
On National Ag Day this year, I am remembering my visit to the farms and what American farmers provide for the world. I also have a newfound appreciation for the technology that enables them to do their jobs more efficiently.
The Alliance to Feed the Future is a group of scientific societies, universities, industry and commodity groups, and nonprofit communication organizations committed to raising awareness and improving understanding of the benefits and necessity of modern food production and technology in order to meet global demand. Its 85 members have science-based resources on modern agriculture, food production, and technology that are all available through the Alliance website.
I recently had the opportunity to visit a farm for the first time ... ever. Sure, I'd driven by farms and seen the cattle grazing and the fields with row upon row of corn and cotton. But I never had an up-close and personal look, until now. I was amazed by the efficiency with which the cows were milked and the pride the farmers took in their work. But one of the most striking things was how far agricultural technology has come, and how that technology enables farmers to do their jobs more efficiently than ever before.
For example, one farm I visited had 4,500 acres of land for growing corn and soybeans. To farm all that land, there were about a dozen people. My math skills aren't great, but that seems like a lot of land per person! This level of efficiency would have been impossible 50 years ago. When you see the old and the new farming machinery—planters, irrigators, combines, etc.—side by side, the difference is truly remarkable. And yet, it is still a very similar process with the same basic tasks as before; only faster and on a larger scale (and less back pain). Ultimately, improvements in farming technology now make it possible to obtain more food from the land, with less food waste and less loss of natural resources. In addition, techniques such as biotechnology, used by some farmers, make it possible to reduce pesticide and herbicide applications, which research shows consumers are looking for in foods they buy for themselves.
If I had to choose between the “old” way of doing things and the new, I would definitely pick the new. After all, who doesn't want their job to be easier (I don't know what I would do if I had to revert back to “snail mail” and fax machines)!
One thing I can say for sure is that farmers work hard! There are no sick days or snow days in farming. The animals need to be fed and tended to every day. Even when farmers aren't planting or harvesting, there is planning and maintenance to be done on the equipment and vast acres of land, even on the bitterest of cold days (like the day I visited).
For the farmers I met, farming is a personally rewarding and fulfilling career. After seeing what a big job farming is, I appreciate more than ever that I don't have to grow my own food, and I have a greater appreciation for the farmers who work 24/7 to provide food for the world. We all benefit from their hard work!
On National Ag Day this year, I am remembering my visit to the farms and what American farmers provide for the world. I also have a newfound appreciation for the technology that enables them to do their jobs more efficiently.
The Alliance to Feed the Future is a group of scientific societies, universities, industry and commodity groups, and nonprofit communication organizations committed to raising awareness and improving understanding of the benefits and necessity of modern food production and technology in order to meet global demand. Its 85 members have science-based resources on modern agriculture, food production, and technology that are all available through the Alliance website.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Producing Excellence in a Changing Agricultural Landscape
Submitted by Jennifer Armbruster, Farm Credit
Consumers are craving information about how their food gets from farm to table, and Farm Credit has identified four agricultural trends for 2012 through its Producing Excellence program, an online collection of stories celebrating the contributions of the American farmers and ranchers Farm Credit has been serving for 95 years.
1. The growing connection between consumers and producers
72 percent of consumers know nothing or very little about farming or ranching, but nearly the same number say their purchase decisions are impacted by how food is grown and raised.
Producing Excellence, features the stories of Fred Fleming, co-owner of Shepherd’s Grain, and Jimmy Carter of Southern Belle Farm, who are committed to raising agriculture awareness.
2. Agriculture careers offer a bright spot in the U.S. economy
Agriculture is attracting the next generation of farmers from diverse backgrounds, including James and Sandy Stepp, who left the IT world to establish the Wichita Buffalo Company, and Joe Freeman, who retired from his corporate career to set up a cattle operation in Mississippi.
3. Interest in locally grown food
Organic grower Scott Edwards of Fertile Crescent Farm sells the majority of his produce at the local farmer’s market and College-professor-turned-producer Dennis Derryck organizes small teams of vegetable growers to deliver on a unique distribution model in a South Bronx community.
4. Rise in female farm operators
More than 1 million women operate farms in the U.S.—a 22 percent increase since 1997. Third-generation farmer Mary Alice Garay, owner and operator of a large chile farm, and Mary Fritz, a fourth-generation rancher, are examples of this growing trend.
Read more about these producers and dozens more who are shaping the story of Agriculture in America.
Consumers are craving information about how their food gets from farm to table, and Farm Credit has identified four agricultural trends for 2012 through its Producing Excellence program, an online collection of stories celebrating the contributions of the American farmers and ranchers Farm Credit has been serving for 95 years.
1. The growing connection between consumers and producers
72 percent of consumers know nothing or very little about farming or ranching, but nearly the same number say their purchase decisions are impacted by how food is grown and raised.
Producing Excellence, features the stories of Fred Fleming, co-owner of Shepherd’s Grain, and Jimmy Carter of Southern Belle Farm, who are committed to raising agriculture awareness.
2. Agriculture careers offer a bright spot in the U.S. economy
Agriculture is attracting the next generation of farmers from diverse backgrounds, including James and Sandy Stepp, who left the IT world to establish the Wichita Buffalo Company, and Joe Freeman, who retired from his corporate career to set up a cattle operation in Mississippi.
3. Interest in locally grown food
Organic grower Scott Edwards of Fertile Crescent Farm sells the majority of his produce at the local farmer’s market and College-professor-turned-producer Dennis Derryck organizes small teams of vegetable growers to deliver on a unique distribution model in a South Bronx community.
4. Rise in female farm operators
More than 1 million women operate farms in the U.S.—a 22 percent increase since 1997. Third-generation farmer Mary Alice Garay, owner and operator of a large chile farm, and Mary Fritz, a fourth-generation rancher, are examples of this growing trend.
Read more about these producers and dozens more who are shaping the story of Agriculture in America.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Ag Graduates in High Demand
Submitted by Cate Sprout, Staffing Manager, Human Resources, CHS Inc.
Contrary to what you may have recently read in the press, there is a big demand in the workforce for college graduates with agricultural degrees.
We see it every day as we work to recruit the best and brightest new graduates for the wide range of positions we have at CHS. We regularly hire ag grads with degrees in agronomy, plant science, business, ag economics, marketing, animal science and a wide array of related fields.
Our company, along with the agricultural industry, is growing. That growth mirrors Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, which project jobs for agricultural and food science majors will grow by 16 percent between 2008 and 2018. That’s faster than the average for all occupations.
But it won’t be just industry growth driving the future demand for ag grads. Baby boomers will start to retire in the next few years. With nearly half of all ag workers now 55 years old or older, there will be a growing number of agricultural-related positions to fill in the coming decade.
CHS annually recruits for full-time positions and internships at 24 universities—both two- and four-year institutions—throughout our trade territory. For those graduates without much hands-on experience, we also hire trainees for 12- to 18-month programs in precision agricultural technologies, crop nutrient sales, grain terminal management, grain merchandising, cooperative management, and credit and finance.
For anyone with an interest in agriculture and a willingness to learn, the future looks very bright.
Contrary to what you may have recently read in the press, there is a big demand in the workforce for college graduates with agricultural degrees.
We see it every day as we work to recruit the best and brightest new graduates for the wide range of positions we have at CHS. We regularly hire ag grads with degrees in agronomy, plant science, business, ag economics, marketing, animal science and a wide array of related fields.
Our company, along with the agricultural industry, is growing. That growth mirrors Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, which project jobs for agricultural and food science majors will grow by 16 percent between 2008 and 2018. That’s faster than the average for all occupations.
But it won’t be just industry growth driving the future demand for ag grads. Baby boomers will start to retire in the next few years. With nearly half of all ag workers now 55 years old or older, there will be a growing number of agricultural-related positions to fill in the coming decade.
CHS annually recruits for full-time positions and internships at 24 universities—both two- and four-year institutions—throughout our trade territory. For those graduates without much hands-on experience, we also hire trainees for 12- to 18-month programs in precision agricultural technologies, crop nutrient sales, grain terminal management, grain merchandising, cooperative management, and credit and finance.
For anyone with an interest in agriculture and a willingness to learn, the future looks very bright.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
A Little Tech with Your Corn, Soybeans?
Submitted by Willie Vogt, Editorial Director, Farm Progress
It takes a lot of work to feed the 7 billion people who inhabit our planet today. As we aim toward 9 billion by 2050 (or sooner), we have a lot of work ahead of us. Yet, I'm optimistic about the power of the American farmer to meet not only a domestic need for nutritious food consumers demand, but to have the product that the rest of the world needs for its diet.
Why so optimistic? Well, I've been covering farm technology for more than 25 years. In that time, I've seen the miracle merging of computer technology and farm equipment in ways I don't think we would have anticipated in the 1970s. The hands-free operation we find so common today was but an idea in someone's head back in the 1980s, yet today farmers are adding auto-steering tools and other devices to new and used equipment as fast as they can get them.
It's all about the "hardware" of agriculture: the steel and electronics you can touch and put to work every day. And that's changing fast, too. Beyond those auto-steering computers, you'll find computer-controlled diesel engines that sip less fuel and release fewer emissions than ever before, making them more productive on every acre of land we farm.
Then there's the "software" of agriculture: the top-quality genetics of the seed farmer's plant; the improved fertilizer technologies that keep needed nutrients where they belong through the growing season and enhanced crop protection products farmers rely on. Add in the productivity enhancements of biotechnology and improved agronomics, and farmers will have the ability to double corn yields by 2030. That's a stunning fact in 2012, when the average corn yield is about 145 bushels per acre.
Of course there's no sitting back and relaxing in celebration of a job well done. There's roll-up-your-sleeves work to be done as hungry mouths start making demands. During the Ag Day celebrations, we should keep one thing in mind: all that technology makes a difference, but it's still being deployed by the American farmer. Please accept this simple pat on the back.
It takes a lot of work to feed the 7 billion people who inhabit our planet today. As we aim toward 9 billion by 2050 (or sooner), we have a lot of work ahead of us. Yet, I'm optimistic about the power of the American farmer to meet not only a domestic need for nutritious food consumers demand, but to have the product that the rest of the world needs for its diet.
Why so optimistic? Well, I've been covering farm technology for more than 25 years. In that time, I've seen the miracle merging of computer technology and farm equipment in ways I don't think we would have anticipated in the 1970s. The hands-free operation we find so common today was but an idea in someone's head back in the 1980s, yet today farmers are adding auto-steering tools and other devices to new and used equipment as fast as they can get them.
It's all about the "hardware" of agriculture: the steel and electronics you can touch and put to work every day. And that's changing fast, too. Beyond those auto-steering computers, you'll find computer-controlled diesel engines that sip less fuel and release fewer emissions than ever before, making them more productive on every acre of land we farm.
Then there's the "software" of agriculture: the top-quality genetics of the seed farmer's plant; the improved fertilizer technologies that keep needed nutrients where they belong through the growing season and enhanced crop protection products farmers rely on. Add in the productivity enhancements of biotechnology and improved agronomics, and farmers will have the ability to double corn yields by 2030. That's a stunning fact in 2012, when the average corn yield is about 145 bushels per acre.
Of course there's no sitting back and relaxing in celebration of a job well done. There's roll-up-your-sleeves work to be done as hungry mouths start making demands. During the Ag Day celebrations, we should keep one thing in mind: all that technology makes a difference, but it's still being deployed by the American farmer. Please accept this simple pat on the back.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Delicious Dining on the Farm
Submitted by Barry Nelson, Manager, Media Relations, John Deere
Last summer, I attended a special dining event that featured a well-known chef in the Kansas City area. The event was held at a small farm North of Kansas City and everything served was from a local vendor or farm. The beer and wine, the lamb, vegetables, fruit, bread and pastry were all from local producers.
We had a group of 32 people, all seated together, eating family style. As each part of the meal was served, the chef explained the choice of food, where it was produced, and why the appropriate wine or beverage was selected for that particular food.
This type of dining experience has become very popular throughout the United States. To me, this was a celebration of agriculture at its most basic element. We all enjoyed the dining experience and we learned much about the food we were eating and the hard work that went into bringing it to this special event.
Also—to give credit to the chef and manager of this group meal—they did not criticize large production agriculture, but simply explained the benefits of the food they selected for dinner and promoted the farmers that produced this food, locally.
Everyone who attended this special dining event was from Kansas City, not from a farm, and had no farming background. These folks were treated to a great dinner and, through the dining experience, learned about how to raise the food presented at the table. Everyone truly appreciated what it took to bring a great tasting meal to them that evening.
As we continue to promote agriculture and the importance of feeding the world, we need to be inclusive of all types of agriculture. Some of these local dining experiences provide a wonderful connection to urban folks who would never be exposed to the challenges of bringing food to the table (beyond shopping at a local grocery store or driving through a fast food restaurant). These experiences are very positive, personal and enjoyable; and help remind people that farmers provide safe, nutritious, and healthy food locally … and to the world.
This particular venue also allowed me to discuss the challenges of production farming, the special equipment needed and the issue of feeding a growing world population. Food was central to the conversation and brought many people with different backgrounds and experiences together for a memorable event. Agriculture is for everyone and such events as these can help support what our farmers and ranchers do every day! Bon Appetit!
Last summer, I attended a special dining event that featured a well-known chef in the Kansas City area. The event was held at a small farm North of Kansas City and everything served was from a local vendor or farm. The beer and wine, the lamb, vegetables, fruit, bread and pastry were all from local producers.
We had a group of 32 people, all seated together, eating family style. As each part of the meal was served, the chef explained the choice of food, where it was produced, and why the appropriate wine or beverage was selected for that particular food.
This type of dining experience has become very popular throughout the United States. To me, this was a celebration of agriculture at its most basic element. We all enjoyed the dining experience and we learned much about the food we were eating and the hard work that went into bringing it to this special event.
Also—to give credit to the chef and manager of this group meal—they did not criticize large production agriculture, but simply explained the benefits of the food they selected for dinner and promoted the farmers that produced this food, locally.
Everyone who attended this special dining event was from Kansas City, not from a farm, and had no farming background. These folks were treated to a great dinner and, through the dining experience, learned about how to raise the food presented at the table. Everyone truly appreciated what it took to bring a great tasting meal to them that evening.
As we continue to promote agriculture and the importance of feeding the world, we need to be inclusive of all types of agriculture. Some of these local dining experiences provide a wonderful connection to urban folks who would never be exposed to the challenges of bringing food to the table (beyond shopping at a local grocery store or driving through a fast food restaurant). These experiences are very positive, personal and enjoyable; and help remind people that farmers provide safe, nutritious, and healthy food locally … and to the world.
This particular venue also allowed me to discuss the challenges of production farming, the special equipment needed and the issue of feeding a growing world population. Food was central to the conversation and brought many people with different backgrounds and experiences together for a memorable event. Agriculture is for everyone and such events as these can help support what our farmers and ranchers do every day! Bon Appetit!
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