Agriculture is the foundation of America and the backbone of a healthy and prosperous nation. To celebrate America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers, the Agriculture Council of America is hosting National Ag Day on March 23.

This year marks the 48th anniversary of National Ag Day, which was created to increase the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society. This year’s theme is “Food Brings Everyone to the Table.”

“Both the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and last month’s winter storms across Texas have once again reminded all of us the essential role farmers and ranchers play in our food supply chain,” Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) President Russell Boening said. “Farmers, ranchers and others involved in agriculture work together in a sustainable way to grow crops and raise livestock.”

Food brings everyone to the table, but most Americans don’t always stop to consider where that food comes from.

The National Ag Day program encourages every American to:

  • Understand how food and fiber products are produced
  • Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products
  • Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy
  • Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber sector

“Agriculture provides the food we eat, the clothes we wear, many of the products for the homes we live in and increasingly contributes to fuel and other bio-based products,” Boening said. “Agriculture was recognized as a critical and essential industry at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I believe American consumers recognize the importance of agriculture and the food industry as they go to grocery stores and restaurants.”

Boening noted the economic impact of the Texas food and fiber sector totals about $100 billion annually, and agriculture employees one out of every seven working Texans.

The Lone Star State leads the nation in number of farms with 248,416 farms covering 127 million acres of land. The state’s varied climates and soil types enable farmers to grow diverse crops including grains, fiber, timber, fruits and vegetables. Texans are known for raising cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and hogs.

But as urban areas continue to grow, increasing agricultural awareness is critical.

An increased understanding of agriculture allows consumers to make informed decisions.  And informed consumers can help create and support better agricultural policies to keep American agriculture competitive on a global scale, Boening said.

“Every day is Ag Day to farmers and ranchers, but today, on National Ag Day, we pause to think about the contributions of American agriculture,” he said. “Regardless of where you live or work, agriculture has an impact on all Texans. Agriculture is our food, fiber and fuel. It’s our natural resources and environment. It’s careers like education, food safety, science, engineering and more. It’s also our foundation and our legacy.”

TFB fosters agricultural advocacy through membership and a variety of educational opportunities, including agriculture in the classroom, teacher workshops, free lesson plans and learning resources, among others.

National Ag Day is organized by the Agriculture Council of America, a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community. The organization has been hosting Ag Day annually since 1973.

Visit www.agday.org for more information on National Ag Day 2021.