Agriculture has evolved from being a highly labor-intensive production system to a highly progressive, technically advanced system. Technology has reduced the number of people it takes to produce our food and fibers. Production agriculture which just two decades ago employed 90 percent of all Americans, now only employees 2 percent of the American population. However, technology has opened the door of opportunity and increased the demand for more Americans in other facets of agriculture, such as the development, processing, and delivery of products. In fact, today agriculture is the United States' largest employer with almost 23 million Americans employed in agricultural-related fields.
American agriculture is truly everywhere and touches everyone in almost every way.
Food and fiber are essential to everyday life, and it is crucial that the public understand the industry and how closely each person is tied to it.