Food Protection Trends - January 2009 - (Page 13) taken from North Carolina States College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Web site. Twenty-two million American workers produce, process, sell and trade the nation’s food and fiber. But only 4.6 million of those people live on the farms – slightly less than 2 percent of the total US population. Consumers spend $547 billion for food originating on US farms and ranches. Of each dollar spent on food, the farmer’s share is approximately 23 cents. The rest are for costs beyond the farm gate: wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. On average, every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, around $6 million in US agricultural products–grains, oilseeds, cotton, meats, vegetables, snack foods, etc., will be consigned for shipment for export to foreign markets. It all means more jobs and higher wages across the nation. US agricultural exports generate more than $100 billion annually in business activity throughout the US economy and provide jobs for nearly 1 million workers. Agricultural land provides habitat for 75 percent of the nation’s wildlife. Deer, moose, waterfowl and other species have shown significant population increases during the past several years. A recent survey of America’s young farmers and ranchers revealed that 97.2 percent planned to farm and ranch for life. And 90 percent said they would like their children to follow in their footsteps. This provides strong incentive for today’s farmers and ranchers to protect and preserve the natural resources on their property. Not only is the land and its resources a farmer’s lifeblood today, it represents the future for his family and their business. Even though I left the farm many years ago, I can understand why such a high percentage of young farmers want to spend their life on their farm. Once you have a little dirt on your boots and under your fingernails, it stays with you forever. As we move into 2009 and beyond, we must continue to work to be sure that all of our farmers, big and small, are provided with the knowledge and tools to grow and produce foods that are safe. As always, I welcome your comments or feedback. Please email me at stan.bailey@na.biomerieux. com. Please join us in Grapevine, Texas for the 96th Annual Meeting of IAFP on July 12–15, 2009. Make Your Vote Count! Elect the next IAFP Secretary online. Watch your inbox for voting instructions on January 31. JANUARY 2009 | FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS 13
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