Ag Day 2009

On March 20th, our nation will celebrate National Agriculture Day. It goes without saying agriculture is tremendously important to the Third Congressional District and the nation as a whole, and I hope you join me in celebrating everyone who works so hard to provide sustenance for the world.

The Third District of Nebraska is one of the largest agricultural districts in the country and is home to more than 30,000 farmers and ranchers. We have the top three beef cow counties in the U.S. -- Cherry County with nearly 165,000 head; Holt County with 101,000 head; and Custer County with 93,000 head.

Nebraska as a state ranks first in the nation in commercial red meat production. Our farms and ranches contributed more than $14 billion to Nebraska's economy. One of every three jobs in our state is tied to the agriculture industry.

Nationwide, today's average farm is 441 acres. Thanks to modern technology and methods, one acre of land in the U.S. can produce 42,000 pounds of strawberries, 11,000 heads of lettuce, 25,400 pounds of potatoes, or 8,900 pounds of sweet corn.

Two out of every three bushels of corn in the world originate in the United States. One-fourth of the world's beef and nearly one-fifth of the world's grain, milk, and eggs are produced in the U.S.

Agriculture generates 20 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and the U.S. exports $49.1 billion in agriculture products a year. It should come as no surprise that when American agriculture products compete, 96 percent of the world's population find our products superior. It is exactly this type of trade which will play an important role in both our nation's and the world's economic recovery.

Our nation's farmers and ranchers provide food and habitat for 75 percent of the nation's wildlife.

The efficiency of American farmers and ranchers pay off in the price for food as well. U.S. consumers spend roughly 9 percent of their income on food compared with 11 percent in the United Kingdom, 17 percent in Japan, 27 percent in South Africa and 53 percent in India.

This is due in large part to improved equipment efficiency, advances in technology, and sheer determination to strengthen our rural way of life even in hard times.

As impressive as those facts are, I want to make sure the rural way of life has the opportunity to thrive. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

I also serve as a member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development which is dedicated to doing all we can to strengthen our rural communities -- the backbone of our values and way of life. Nebraska and other rural states have seen a 'brain drain' in recent years. As this depletion occurs, we lose our most vital economic asset to more populated areas. If our rural way of life is to succeed, we need to create strong, sustainable rural economies and responsible tax policies to encourage economic development of these areas.

As a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, I am also putting a priority on expanding modern technology in our district to support new and existing businesses, attract new employers, and make our rural communities more competitive in the modern economy.

Recently, I have joined with my colleagues Reps. Travis Childers (D-MS), Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Tim Walz (D-MN) as leaders of the Congressional Rural Caucus. Republicans and Democrats who are part of the Rural Caucus want to protect the rural way of life, while at the same time working to help rural communities prepare for the future.

The bipartisan Congressional Rural Caucus brings together a working group of members to discuss and address the distinct issues facing America's rural communities. The body serves to collectively address these challenges and promote legislation which includes sound rural policies.

The world population is at 6.5 billion today, and is expected to reach 8.04 billion by the year 2025. Much of the world will rely on United States food production to meet the need.

Simply put: agriculture matters. National Agriculture Day is about celebrating the impact the industry has on our state, our nation, and our everyday lives. I'm proud to represent a district that truly embodies the spirit of this celebration.