In times like these, when agriculture producers struggle to make ends meet, it is important to reflect on the huge benefits agriculture has given the citizens of the United States and the rest of the world.
The average family in the United States spends 10 percent of its disposable income on food. This represents food eaten in local restaurants, as well as taken home in your grocery store bag. Compare that number with Europe, where they will spend 25 percent of their income for food. Those living in India spend 50 percent of their take-home pay to sustain themselves. Russia will spend 90 percent of its disposable income on food and clothing and still go to bed hungry.
The small amount of money that we as Americans spend on food allows us to have money left over for home mortgages, automobiles, entertainment, travel and recreational activities.
Not only does U.S. farm production provide for this nation but for many other nations as well in the form of exports. Our extra production fed most of the world during World War II. We came to the rescue of Russia in the 1970s when they had a grain disaster. How many times have U.S. food supplies headed off starvation in many other countries?
Less than 2 percent of Americans producing food and fiber has given the rest of citizens other lifestyles. The social benefit to society is that 98 percent of our neighbors can go on to pursue nonfarming careers without worrying about how to feed their families. I doubt that Bill Gates would have had time to come up with Microsoft if he had been spending his days around Seattle digging in the dirt trying to grow enough food to feed his family. The success of U.S. agriculture allows it and the rest of society to make the accomplishments that have blessed and prospered the great United States of America.
Not only do our agriculture producers supply us with the least-expensive food, but the healthiest and safest. There have been instances where food items have not been handled properly and health issues have occurred. Many times our problems are not enough food but too many choices.
Even in a country of plenty, there are people with incomes who know the pains of hunger, and we, through the United States Department of Agriculture’s system of distribution in 2009, provided $72 billion of its budget out of a total of $97 billion directly to mandatory programs providing services and nutritional programs. In all, 32 million children are served in school programs, 28 million people are provided food stamps, and 8.6 million children are covered in the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program. Our agricultural production allows many of our less-privileged citizens to have a resource of nutritious food.
Most of our fellow citizens do not know what being hungry really feels like. Let me just mention a story that was told to me by an acquaintance, about a lady who immigrated to our United States after World War II. She told of her family being so hungry during the war and German occupation, and making bread by using grass. That’s when you know the true meaning of hunger.
A big thank you, American farmers, ranchers, dairy, swine, and poultry producers for what you do.
Darrell Robertson lives in Lamar.
Opinion
Guest columnist Darrell Robertson: Thank a farmer for feeding America
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