WASHINGTON, March 21, 2017 – Acting Agriculture Deputy Secretary Michael L. Young today released the following statement:
"Today is National Agriculture Day, set aside to pay tribute to the farmers and ranchers of our nation. The work of American producers and growers ensures consumers in our country have plenty of safe food and a wide variety at a cost lower than much of the world.
“Through their efficiency, they are able to produce more food and fiber than is demanded in our country, generating a trade surplus in agricultural products for the United States. As President Trump noted in the Presidential Proclamation declaring today National Agriculture Day, ‘American agriculture is the largest positive contributor to our Nation’s net trade balance, providing 10 percent of our exports and millions of jobs.’
“Farmers and ranchers also play a role in helping sustain rural communities in the face of shifting populations and economic challenges. In these and many other ways, agriculture is a key part of the American economy.
“So today, the employees of USDA thank our farmers and ranchers for all they do to feed our nation and the world, for their work conserving and preserving the land, and for being actively engaged in their local communities."
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