On Friday, March 20, we celebrate National Ag Day. We celebrate America's farmers who work long hours, brave all weather conditions and ride the markets' volatile waves to provide food, fiber and fuel for our nation and the world.
Despite the important role agriculture plays in our daily lives, many Americans believe food comes from local grocery stores, clothing comes from the Gap, and fuels - such as ethanol - are created at gas pumps. Far too many people are unaware of what it takes to put clothing on their backs every day and food on their supper tables every night.
Wisconsin Farmers Union brings farmers and consumers together in support of Wisconsin's family farmers. We make it a priority to educate consumers about the food they buy in grocery stores. For example, Wisconsin Farmers Union was integral in passing and implementing country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on all meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts and ginseng sold in grocery stores. Prior to the implementation of COOL, processors were not required to label products with their countries of origin. Now, Farmers Union is working to pass dairy country-of-origin labeling so all dairy products will be required to be labeled with their countries of origin.
In the past few years, Americans have faced a number of food scares such as melamine in infant formula, salmonella outbreaks in tomatoes and peanut butter, and tainted rice in pet food. It is important to note that in all of those examples, American farmers were not to blame. Many of these food scares originated with imported foods; and it was the fact that we did not know where those foods had come from that made these problems worse and delayed investigations into the causes of those health risks.
On National Ag Day, Wisconsin Farmers Union members will be at the Festival Foods in La Crosse and Eau Claire from 9 to 11 a.m., to talk about farmers' shares of food dollars. Only 19 cents of every $1 spent on food goes to farmers. That means that more than 80 percent of the money spent in grocery stores goes to processors, distributors and marketing.
Farmers, just as everyone else, are facing troubling economic times. They continue to be affected by tightening credit. In 2008, farmers faced volatile commodity and dairy prices. Those markets since have collapsed, while input costs remain high. In particular, dairy farmers have taken a huge loss on their milk checks. Please support Wisconsin's dairy farmers by drinking milk and eating cheese and other dairy products.
Farmers continue to work harder than ever. Each American farmer feeds 144 people. Agriculture is needed to help sustain our local and national economy. While many industries began their downward economic slides in 2008, Wisconsin agriculture brought much needed income into our state. Nationally, agriculture continues to be the nation's top export and is vitally important to sustaining a healthy economy.
As we look at our state and national economic crisis, Wisconsin Farmers Union asks you to think about those people who work hard to provide for your family. It's easy to take agriculture for granted. Our food is readily accessible and safe. National Ag Day is a good time to reflect and be grateful for our nation's family farmers.
Despite the important role agriculture plays in our daily lives, many Americans believe food comes from local grocery stores, clothing comes from the Gap, and fuels - such as ethanol - are created at gas pumps. Far too many people are unaware of what it takes to put clothing on their backs every day and food on their supper tables every night.
Wisconsin Farmers Union brings farmers and consumers together in support of Wisconsin's family farmers. We make it a priority to educate consumers about the food they buy in grocery stores. For example, Wisconsin Farmers Union was integral in passing and implementing country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on all meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts and ginseng sold in grocery stores. Prior to the implementation of COOL, processors were not required to label products with their countries of origin. Now, Farmers Union is working to pass dairy country-of-origin labeling so all dairy products will be required to be labeled with their countries of origin.
In the past few years, Americans have faced a number of food scares such as melamine in infant formula, salmonella outbreaks in tomatoes and peanut butter, and tainted rice in pet food. It is important to note that in all of those examples, American farmers were not to blame. Many of these food scares originated with imported foods; and it was the fact that we did not know where those foods had come from that made these problems worse and delayed investigations into the causes of those health risks.
On National Ag Day, Wisconsin Farmers Union members will be at the Festival Foods in La Crosse and Eau Claire from 9 to 11 a.m., to talk about farmers' shares of food dollars. Only 19 cents of every $1 spent on food goes to farmers. That means that more than 80 percent of the money spent in grocery stores goes to processors, distributors and marketing.
Farmers, just as everyone else, are facing troubling economic times. They continue to be affected by tightening credit. In 2008, farmers faced volatile commodity and dairy prices. Those markets since have collapsed, while input costs remain high. In particular, dairy farmers have taken a huge loss on their milk checks. Please support Wisconsin's dairy farmers by drinking milk and eating cheese and other dairy products.
Farmers continue to work harder than ever. Each American farmer feeds 144 people. Agriculture is needed to help sustain our local and national economy. While many industries began their downward economic slides in 2008, Wisconsin agriculture brought much needed income into our state. Nationally, agriculture continues to be the nation's top export and is vitally important to sustaining a healthy economy.
As we look at our state and national economic crisis, Wisconsin Farmers Union asks you to think about those people who work hard to provide for your family. It's easy to take agriculture for granted. Our food is readily accessible and safe. National Ag Day is a good time to reflect and be grateful for our nation's family farmers.
