American Agri-Women

Some interesting facts and quotes about agriculture and farm policy, shared by FarmPolicyFacts.org:


98% of U.S. farms are run by families-less than 2% are corporate farms.

Family farms produce 86% of America's food and fiber.

"Our farmers deserve praise, not condemnation; and their efficiency should be cause for gratitude, not something for which they are penalized" - President John F. Kennedy.

There are more than 2 million farms in America.

America has the cheapest, safest, most abundant food supply in the world.

U.S. consumers spend just 10% of their income on food-the lowest percentage in the world.

Pharmaceuticals...paint...fuel...cosmetics...crayons. These are just some of the everyday products made possible by U.S. farms.

Today's farmer provides food and fiber for 144 people-up from just 19 people in 1940.

For every dollar Americans spend on food, farmers only get 20 cents.

The average U.S. farm is 441 acres-up from 155 in 1935.

There are 6.5 billion people on the planet, and the world's population will reach 8 billion by 2025. Good thing U.S. farmers continue to increase their efficiency.

"Cultivators are the most valuable citizens…they are tied to their country" - President Thomas Jefferson.

There were 13.4% more women farmers in 2002 than in 1997, according to the 2002 Ag Census.

Agriculture employs 20% of the U.S. workforce, or about 21 million people.

Agriculture accounts for roughly 20% of the nations GDP, contributing $3.5 trillion a year to the U.S. economy.

Agricultural land provides habitat for 75% of the nation's wildlife.

X-ray film…adhesives...ink...toothpaste. These are just some of the everyday products made possible by U.S. farms.

About 40% of the country is farmland-that's an area the size of nine Californias.

The current farm bill isn't just about farmers, food and clothing-it also provides nearly $40 billion for environmental conservation.

Japanese grocery shoppers spend 26% of their incomes on food- Americans only spend 10%, thanks to farm policy.

The market value of U.S. agriculture products in 2002 was $200 billion, or about $94,000 per farm.

Under the current farm bill, 2007 federal farm support is predicted to decline $3.9 billion since last year.

"In no other country do so few people produce so much food, to feed so many, at such reasonable prices" - President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

"Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you're a thousand miles from the corn field" - President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Compared to other major agricultural producers around the globe, the U.S. ranks near the bottom of the subsidization and tariff scale.

Nearly 6% of farm households have had a negative household income over the past 10 years.

Agriculture is America's number one export.

"It will not be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance" - President George Washington.

Grocery shoppers from India spend 51% of their incomes on food-Americans only spend 10%, thanks to farm policy.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing depends on farmers to produce paper currency-75% of every bill is made of cotton.

Agriculture employs 21 million people—more than seven times as many workers as the U.S. automotive industry.

Agriculture stands out as a sector of the economy that consistently runs a trade surplus (exports totaled $115 Billion in 2008 and exceeded imports by $34 Billion).

According to a 2006 USDA study, agricultural exports generated 841,000 full-time civilian jobs, including 482,000 jobs in the nonfarm sector.

U.S. farms sold $297 billion in goods in 2007—that’s bigger than the GDP of Ireland, Finland, Hong Kong or the United Arab Emirates.

For every dollar Americans spend on food, farmers only get 20 cents.

Of the $2.99 retail price of a 1lb loaf of bread, farmers receive just 12¢.

America has the cheapest, safest, most abundant food supply in the world.

91% of Americans think it is important to produce food domestically.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing depends on farmers to produce paper currency—75% of every bill is made of cotton.

Farmers’ input costs, for things like fertilizer and crude oil products, significantly outpaced commodity price increases in 2007 & 2008.

Fresno, California is the top-producing county in America when it comes to agricultural products.

Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kentucky have the most farms.

California, Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas have the highest agriculture sales.

More than 70% of farm bill-related spending goes to food and nutrition programs like food stamps, not to farmers; Only 10% of funding in the farm bill goes to farm programs.

Agricultural land provides habitat for 75% of the nation's wildlife.

About 40% of the country is farmland—that’s an area nine times the size of California and greater than twice the size of Alaska.