Date: 1989-03-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 117. to designate March 20. 1989. as "National Agriculture Day." I Introduced this resolution with the Honorable EDWARD A. MADIGAN. the distinguished ranking minority member of the House Committee on Agriculture. to encourage all Americans to be aware of the importance of agriculture in every aspect of their lives. This observance. which has been In effect for more than a decade. is traditionally cele. brated on the first day of spring. a season of rebirth and growth after the chilly days of winter. This year. especially. it is a time of new promise and hope for Americas agriculture sector after the devastating drought of last year. Working together with the Agriculture Council of America. we have sought to educate all Americans about the men and women who have dedicated their lives to provide the food and fiber necessary for human existence. and who have helped spur the economic growth of our great Nation. Agriculture and the food and fiber system represents 17 percent of our Nations gross national product. One out of every six jobs Is in agriculture and related industry. The food and fiber system generates an estimated 20.1 million jobs. approximately 17 percent of the entire U.S. workforce. Approximately 90 percent of the jobs In todays food and fiber system are offthefarm jobs. The American agricultural sector Is the most efficient and productive In the world. The American food and fiber system produces 27 percent of the worlds food grains and 25 percent of the worlds beef with only 3 percent of the wodds agricultural labor force. One farmer or rancher can provide food and fiber for 114 people. 92 In the United States and 22 in foreign lands. The United States Is the worlds largest exporting nation of agricultural products. In fiscal 1988. U.S. agricultural exports were $35.5 billion with agricultural imports totaling only $21 billion. This $14.5 billion favorable balance of trade offset some of the large unfavorable balance In U.S. Industrial trade. Further. each additional $1 billion In U.S. farm exports creates another $1.5 billion of economic activity. The eight largest markets for United States agricultural exports In 1987In millions of dollarswere Japan. $5.700. Netherlands. $1.975. South Korea. $1.833. Canada. $1.809. Taiwan. $1.285. West Germany. $1.284. Mexico. $1.200. and the Soviet Union. $938. Furthermore. Americans spend a lower percentage of their disposable income on food than the citizens of any other nation In the world. On average. an American will spend only 13 percent of disposable income on food. compares with Japan at 18 percent. Philippines at 53 percent. France at 18 percent. and Ecuador at 35 percent. Less than 1 percent of U.S. farmland Is foreignowned. The largest among foreignowned acreage. 14 percent of the U.S. total. is In Maine and Is mostly timberland. In 1987. one In 49 persons. or 2 percent of the U.S. population. lived on a farm. compared with 30 percent in 1920. and 90 percent when the Constitution was signed. The rural farm population dropped about I million between 1890 and 1984 to 4.986.000. Uke other Independent businesses. many U.S. farms are Incorporated. Of all Incorporated farms. 82 percent were familyheld In 1982. The average farm Is 463 acres with average farm assets at $373.7000--ncuding real estate and operator household. Average farm debt is $70.500. Farmers that have offfarm jobs In addition to farming represent 48.4 percent of the farm population. Farm residents medium age was 37.6 years. compared with 32 years for nonfarm residents. There was a total 998.692.000 acres in farm land In 1988 with 25.5 million acres enrolled In the Convervation Reserve program and 54.2 million acres In setaside programs. The proclamation of this observance. which has bipartisan support In both Houses of this Congress and the full support of the executive branch. has always been a useful way of adding to the Importance and prominence of National Agriculture Day. It helps to promote an understanding of modem agriculture. culturally and historically. as a way of life.