Celebrate Agriculture During Ag Week, March 4-10

Had a good steak lately? Enjoyed a hearty Western omelet for brunch? What about spreading some honey on a tasty piece of whole wheat bread? Chances are this delicious food originated in the fields and pastures of Montana’s farmers and ranchers. Celebrating National Agriculture Week March 4-10, is a great way to think about and acknowledge the people who grow America’s food and fiber, according to the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.

“Contrary to myths swirling around today that all of our food is raised by corporate farms, nothing could be further from the truth. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Survey in 2009, 97% of American farms are owned by individuals, family partnerships or family corporations,” notes MFBF President Bob Hanson, himself a family rancher from White Sulphur Springs. “Also contrary to the misguided belief that agriculture is a dead-end occupation, although only 2% of us grow the food, agriculture employs more than 21 million American workers—that’s 15% of our workforce—to produce, process, sell, trade and market American-grown food and fiber.”

Hanson points out that whether you’re a small-scale sheep rancher or a large-volume grain producer, the goal is to take care of your land and leave productive, healthy ground for the future. “Again, there are some folks who rattle off about how bad agriculture is for the environment, but look at the statistics. By using methods like no-till or contour farming, producers have cut erosion of cropland by nearly 50% since 1982. That means they have reduced soil erosion by 622 million tons and restored more than two million acres of wetlands. That’s something to be proud of. Many farmers are now using technology for precision farming, which means fertilizer and crop protectants are only placed where and in the amount they are needed.”

In addition to caring for the land, farmers and ranchers care for their livestock. “Many people who aren’t involved with livestock don’t realize the time and expense it takes to care for the animals,” Hanson said. “I can tell you first hand as someone who raises beef cattle and Quarter Horses, those animals come first for feeding and comfort. You need to ensure they have water, feed and shelter at all time, and especially in inclement weather. When most sane people are inside their warm houses, our Montana livestock producers are out in the snow and wind putting out hay, straw and making sure water isn’t frozen.”

Many farmers and ranchers have engaged consumers via social networking about what they do and why they do it. “Montana Farm Bureau has a Facebook page, as well as a website which contains blogs and links about raising food and animal care,” Hanson says. “This Ag Week, be sure to thank your rancher or farmer neighbors for the work they do all year to make sure you have a variety of nutritious, affordable food when you sit down to supper.”