However, the family's agricultural enterprises go back to 1804, when Ray's great, great grandfather first settled in Madison County. Good conservation practices over the years have helped keep the family in the farming business. And, the Bureau of the Census says, the number of farms currently is the smallest since prior to the Civil War. However, overall farm production has continued to increase, continuing the efficiency trend that has made U.S. agriculture by far the most productive in the world. Farms include both large, specialized family businesses and small farms that supply just part of a family's income.
Beef cattle are important on hundreds of thousands of both small and large farms and ranches.
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recognized the positive role of lean beef and other meats in American diets. The committee recently issued a report with its recommendations for a 1995 update of the government's official Dietary Guidelines for Americans. As in previous Guidelines, consumers are advised to eat balanced diets, including foods from five major food groups. A serving in the meat group is defined as 2 to 3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry or fish. Special note is made of the importance of dietary iron, and red meats are listed first among the good sources of iron.