Iowans have much to be thankful for again this year. For many it has been a difficult year, but we are still extremely fortunate to live in country with so many freedoms and such great abundance.
Our great abundance is one reason I am urging Iowans to remember the farmers that put the food on our table this holiday season.
Iowa farmers help drive our state’s economy, protect Iowa’s precious natural resources and feed a fast growing world.
The impact of agriculture on our state’s economy is undeniable.
In fact, one analysis of the 2007 Census of Agriculture by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers with the help of an Iowa State University extension economist showed that agriculture and ag-related industries directly and indirectly employ one of every six Iowans, or 17 percent of the state’s workforce. It also showed that agriculture is responsible for adding $72.1 billion to the state’s economy, or 27 percent of the state’s total.
And, while farmers know their job is to produce food to feed the world, they understand that protecting the state’s soil and water goes hand in hand with growing crops. If our state’s high quality top soil erodes or our state’s waterways are polluted, next year’s crop is put in jeopardy.
So, farmers take conservation seriously. As a result, Iowa leads the nation with 524,667 acres enrolled in the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). In addition, through the state cost share program more than $400 million have been invested, including $200 million by farmers, to install terraces, grass waterways, buffer strips and other conservation practice that help protect our state’s soil and water.
Farmers are able to do all this, and still provide safe, high quality, AND affordable food to America and the world.
For example, the American Farm Bureau recently completed their annual “Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey” and found that families can expect to pay 4 percent less for their Thanksgiving dinner this year than last year.
The price fell even though Americans already enjoy some of the least expensive food on the plant. The USDA found that the average consumer in the U.S. spent only 9.8 percent of their disposable income on food, and that percentage has been falling. For example, Americans spent 13.9 percent of food in 1970.
When you look at what other countries spend on food, this is even more impressive. For example, consumers in the United Kingdom spend 22 percent of their income on food, and in Japan it is 26 percent.
When you look at the big picture, even in the mist of such a difficult economic climate, we all do have many reasons to be thankful. I encourage you take a moment this holiday season to consider the farmers that help make our holiday meals possible.
Bill Northey is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture. Northey is a fourth-generation corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, Iowa. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are expanding opportunities in renewable energy, encouraging conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture. To learn more visit www.IowaAgriculture.gov.
