Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent
American agriculture plays an ever-increasing role in our daily lives by providing food, fiber and renewable natural resources for a growing world. With a population of 8 million and counting, our American farmers are more important than ever. According to the USDA National Ag Statistics Census of Agricultural 2023 Summary, after peaking at 6.8 million farms in 1935, our nation has just under 2 million farms today.
On National Ag Day, we celebrate the men & women who work on those 1.89 million farms in the US, which provide America and the rest of the world with “3 squares” a day, as the old saying goes! Farming is one of the most challenging, demanding and stressful occupations I know of, yet these folks tend to have nearly 880 million acres of farmland in the US to feed and clothe the world.
This year’s theme, Together We Grow, highlights and underscores the importance of our agriculture industry. National Ag Day 2025 marks the 52nd year of the nationwide effort to educate the American consumer about this resilient industry, which affects everyone. From the food we eat and the fuel in our vehicles to the fiber in clothes we wear and the lumber used to construct our homes, agriculture touches everyone somehow.
During Nation Ag Day, every American is encouraged to:
-Understand how food, fiber, & fuel products are produced and distributed.
-Appreciate agriculture’s role in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.
-Value the essential role agriculture plays in a strong economy.
-Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industries.
You don’t necessarily have to be a farmer to be involved in agriculture. There is a growing need for scientists, biologists, food safety technicians, horticulturists, livestock nutritionists, ag economists, agricultural engineers and other workers to support this vital industry. American agriculture is the foundation on which our nation’s health, wealth and prosperity have been built. So, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, join me in celebrating the 52nd Anniversary of National Agriculture Day and the contributions of hard-working farm families that make American Agriculture what it is today.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
