Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers receives a resolution from Chenango County Board of Supervisors Chairman George Seneck, along with the rest of the board, dedicating March 2022 as Agriculture Month in Chenango County. (Submitted photo)

CHENANGO COUNTY — This year’s theme for Agriculture Day on March 22 is "Growing a Climate for Tomorrow," the 49th anniversary of the event.

“Agriculture makes up approximately 25 percent of the entire United States gross national product. Food and fiber production and services are the largest segment of the United States economy. American farmers are not only an integral part of the National economy, but they represent and characterize what has made America great — hard work,” said Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers.

The month of March marks the beginning of spring, as well as the month in which a day is set aside as National Agriculture Day (Ag Day), an annual celebration recognizing the positive impact that the agricultural industry has on every American’s daily life.

A vital segment of Chenango County’s economy is based on agriculture, it is only fitting and proper that recognition be given to farmers who, on a daily basis, provide the food and fiber of America.

The Chenango County Board of Supervisors proclaimed March 2022 “Agriculture Month” in Chenango County, and call upon the citizens of this county to recognize the efforts of the members of the Chenango County agricultural community who, on a daily basis, perform their jobs with pride and dedication.

According to the Farm Bureau agriculture has contributed more than $5.7 billion to New York State's agricultural sales economy.

American agriculture is an industry that contributes $200 billion per quarter on average to the U.S. GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

There are 33,400 farms in New York State and 6,900,000 acres of operated farmland. Each American farmer feeds approximately 166 people in the United States and abroad. In 1960 that number was 25.8.

To feed the world in the next 50 years, farmers will need to produce more food than was produced in the last 10,000 years combined.

According to the latest statistics, by 2050 it is projected that there will be 9.2 billion people on the planet, and recent estimates suggest that food production will have to increase by 70 percent if we are to feed everyone.

In the U.S., there are 39,000 dairy farms milking just over 9 million cows, and 95 percent of those farms are family-owned and operated. In New York State, 99 percent of farms are family owned and operated, many having been passed down from generation to generation. At the end of the day, about two percent of the U.S. population are farmers, working hard each day to produce the food that nourishes all of us. It is a 365 days a year job.

It’s the number one industry in Chenango County and New York State.

- From the Chenango County Farm Bureau