Wheat harvest file photo, 2007 More than three million people farm or ranch in the United States. Individuals, family partnerships or family corporations operate almost 99 percent of U.S. farms. Over 22 million people are employed in farm or farm-related jobs, including production agriculture, farm inputs, processing and marketing and wholesale and retail sales.

On March 20, 2010 – the first day of spring – agriculture sets aside a day to recognize and celebrate the contributions that agriculture makes to this great nation. Farm Credit Services – one of the country’s largest ag cooperatives serving over 85,000 farmers throughout Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee - is proud to be affiliated with those in farming and agriculture and salutes their efforts!

Video competition

One of the ways fans of agriculture can support the farming community is to participate in the “I Am Agriculture” video competition sponsored by the “Farm Credit” Facebook Fan Page. Simply upload your video of what agriculture means to you and you could receive a free flip video recorder (search “Farm Credit” on Facebook to locate the competition). The deadline to upload your video is March 20, 2010.

Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis. By building awareness, the Agriculture Council of America (the sponsor of Ag Day) is encouraging young people to consider career opportunities in agriculture. Each American farmer feeds more than 144 people - a dramatic increase from 25 people in the 1960s. Quite simply, American agriculture is doing more - and doing it better. As the world population soars, there is an even greater demand for the food and fiber produced in the United States.

Today’s farmers understand the importance of improving the quality and quantity of food available to the world. According to the US Census Bureau, it is estimated that there will be 7.5 billion people in the world by the year 2020 (we’re currently at 6.2 billion). It’s agriculture’s job to find a way to feed those people. Advancements in crop technology, equipment technology and information management will make that possible. American farmers and others involved in the agriculture industry have met and will continue to meet this challenge again and again.