Many people don’t think about where their products come from when they are in the checkout line at the local supermarket, enjoying their favorite snack, or getting ready in the mornings. The agriculture industry is an amazing industry that we could improve by helping educate others about the responsibilities that agriculturalists have.
Each U.S farmer produces enough food to feed 155 people. It has been estimated that by the year 2050 our population will expand so much that global food production must increase by at least 70% to meet the world’s needs. This is challenging farmers to produce more food in the next 50 years than what has been produced in previous years.
The agriculture industry isn’t just a food providing industry, it also provides us with jobs, stimulates the economy, provides homes for humans as well as animals, and betters our environment. The industry employs 14% of the U.S workforce, or about 21 million people. It also employs more than six times as many workers than the U.S. automotive industry. This makes the agriculture industry a very big and influential industry. Without our cotton farmers, we wouldn’t have money; because 75% of every bill is made of cotton.
Now, back to our question: Where would you be without agriculture? Without agriculture you would be naked, lacking nutrients you need for survival, unprotected, and hungry. You wouldn’t have the clothes on your back, the towels in your bathroom or the sheets on your bed. You wouldn’t be able to enjoy your daily meals or have the protection of a sturdy, well-furnished home. There wouldn’t be vehicles, much less the gas to put in them. Also, you wouldn’t have the soap, shampoo, conditioner, or other toiletries to be clean. To summarize all this, without agriculture you would simply be naked and hungry. Next time you see a farmer, please thank them for all that they do to supply you with necessities for your daily life.