In Praise Of Agriculture

The Daily News Record (Harrisburg, VA)
Wednesday
April 9, 2008
Original Article Here

Two hundred years ago, most Americans made a living by farming, so most had a comprehensive knowledge of agriculture and the land.

Today, many city dwellers probably think beef actually comes in a plastic package, and trees sprout corn and beans in tin cans.

The abundance of food in the nation is one reason to celebrate those who feed the rest of us by farming. To help start the celebration, Gov. Tim Kaine has proclaimed March 16-22 as Virginia Agriculture Week.

There are many things to celebrate these seven days. Agriculture is Virginia's largest industry, generating $36 billion per year, or 12.3 percent of all sales in the state, and nearly 10 percent of the jobs.

The nation has about 2.1 million farms. About 46,000-plus of them are in Virginia, encompassing 8.5 million acres, about one-third of the state's total land. The state produces a diverse mix of products, including field and orchard crops, dairy products, livestock, poultry, seafood and farm-raised fish, tobacco, cotton, lumber and other processed foods. In 2002 - the last year figures are available - Rockingham County led the state in agricultural sales with more than $446 million. Augusta County was second with $143 million. More than 2,000 farms are located in Rockingham County, with more than 241,000 acres used as farmland.

Many farmers - bypassing the larger food stores - market their products directly to the public at roadside stands, farmers markets and pick-your-own farms. If a city dweller passes by, and decides to do some picking, he or she may be surprised that products do not originate in a can or package.

The master golfer Tiger Woods was in the news recently for purchasing a $64 million mansion in New York. Among the baseball players who will begin their season next week is Alex Rodriguez, who has a $250 million contract with the New York Yankees.

Not to downplay their talents, but Mr. Woods smacks a little white ball around. Mr. Rodriguez hits and catches a slightly larger ball. They are amazing to watch, but their talents are not vital to a nation, or to humanity.

Agriculture is.

The rest of us could not survive without those ladies and gentlemen whose expertise are the land and crops and weather. Without them, the rest of humanity would starve.

Which is ample reason to celebrate and be thankful for those 46,000 farms and the men and women who run them.