March 4, 2010

March 20 is time to celebrate, acknowledge agriculture

RICHMOND— March 20 isn’t a school holiday for kids, but National Agriculture Day is just as important to our society.

That first day of spring each year signifies a time to celebrate and reflect on America’s and Virginia’s largest industry.

In Virginia alone, the agriculture industry accounts for more than $55 billion and 432,000 jobs annually, while it helps create a positive trade balance. Meanwhile, the local foods movement is steadily growing, as are farmers‘ markets, which now total more than 170 in the Old Dominion.

“It’s important for people to remember where their food comes from,” said Janice Burton, chairman of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Committee. “Now more than ever, when we’re pinching our pennies at the grocery store, consumers should be grateful for all the wonderful food farmers provide to us and the rest of the world.

“It’s also important to buy American products,” she added. “I once took back a fish I purchased when I realized it had come from China. We need to support our local and American farmers.”

National Agriculture Day began in 1973 and is sponsored by the Agriculture Council of America. Its Web site is at Agday.org, and its goal is to help both students and adults learn how farmers feed and clothe the world.

While the first day of spring is the focal point, National Agriculture Week and Virginia Agriculture Week run the entire week of March 14-20.

Agriculture is Virginia’s and the nation’s largest industry, employing everyone from researchers to marketers to economists to farmers.

The growing local foods movement also has put dollars back in to the pockets of Virginians. According to a 2008 study by Virginia Cooperative Extension, if every Virginian bought just $10 of locally grown foods a week for a year it would boost local economies by as much as $1.65 billion.

You can find searchable databases of Virginia farms, farmers‘ markets and other local food sources at vdacs.gov/news/agweek10.shtml and SaveOurFood.org.

Agriculture is also the one economic sector that consistently has maintained a positive trade balance. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, farm exports are expected to reach $100 billion in fiscal year 2010, while agricultural imports are expected to remain at $77.5 billion.

Contact Norm Hyde, VFBF senior video producer, at 804-290-1146.