The National Ag Day program helps Americans:
- Understand how their food is produced
- Value the contributions of agriculture to the economy
- Appreciate the role of agriculture in their every day lives
"Farmers all over America are harvesting record crops. You know, I've always thought that when we Americans get up in the morning, when we see bacon, eggs, toast, and milk on our breakfast table, we should give thanks that our farmers are survivors. You are the real miracle workers of the modern world - keepers of an incredible system based on faith, freedom, hard work, productivity, and profit - a system that feeds us and sustains millions of the world's hungry."
- President Ronald Reagan, BrainyQuote
Ag Day has also become a large event for policymakers to learn more about the agriculture industry and spread the word to their constituents. This year, Agri-Pulse hosted a panel discussion on Capitol Hill entitled "Farm to Fork Politics: How Sustainability is Reframing Food Production and Marketing," and the USDA hosted its "Celebration of Agriculture" dinner, in addition to the many other industry events held throughout the nation.
In honor of National Ag Day last week, let's take a look at the key role agriculture has played throughout America's history - starting with its founders - leading our nation to where it is today.
"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness."
- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to George Washington, BrainyQuote
Agriculture has been a consistent star in our nation's history. Famines across Europe led many families to flee to America, where they discovered new crops and developed innovative farming techniques. Although historians debate the level of agricultural relations between the pilgrims and native peoples, we continue to celebrate Thanksgiving in honor of the first settlers' farming heritage.
During the 18th century, royal threats to the import-export industry sparked the flame that would lead to the Revolutionary War and the independence of the United States of America. When delegates of the new nation met at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the agriculture industry remained at the forefront of our Founding Fathers' minds. One central debate - should plantations be allowed to use slave labor? - would continue for almost 100 years before the nation fought the Civil War to solve the issue.
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| Photo credit: http://americanhistory.si.edu |
Agriculture continued to drive America's success or failure in the 20th century. During World War I, American agriculture products helped the Allied Powers hold on to defeat the Central Powers. After World War I, Americans learned that while agricultural prosperity could propel the nation, agricultural desolation could also depress the nation. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt developed new federal programs to aid the agriculture industry, including the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) (New Deal History). When war broke out again in World War II, the ability of American men, and especially women, to maintain the fields and feed the troops played a critical role in the military's success.
Unfortunately, as American urban culture continues to grow, people have lost sight of the role of agriculture in our nation's past, present, and future. Today, most Americans are two to four generations away from the farm and remain unaware and uninterested about ag policy, according to research by the University of Maryland extension service.
"Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country."
- William Jennings Bryan, BrainyQuote
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| An example of the USDA's Where Was the Food on Your Plate Grown? interactive map |
This new reality has led to information campaigns, such as the program launched by the USDA on Ag Day called "Where Was the Food on Your Plate Grown?" This program helps kids connect their every day meals with the ag industry across America.
Agricultural policy continues to play an important role in shaping America's identity, and events like National Ag Day help bring agriculture back into our nation's consciousness.
"Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you're a thousand miles from the corn field."
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower, BrainyQuote
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