A recently completed study commissioned by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Farm Bureau, found agriculture remains the top industry in our state with a contribution of some $88.4 billion to the economy. The study further revealed that in 2016, agriculture provided 378,000 jobs, $2.2 billion in state/local taxes and $17.5 billion in labor income.
This information drives home the importance of agriculture. The labors of agriculture impact our lives each day. In addition to food, agriculture provides clothing, fuel, medicine, entertainment, sports equipment, personal care products, school supplies and the list goes on.
It is a fact: agriculture is a driving force of communities both rural and urban. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, innovations in agriculture allow one U.S. farmer to provide enough food and fiber for 168 people in the United States and abroad. Consumers in this country spend less than 10 percent of their disposable income on food, according to the USDA. That is less than any other country in the world.
So, join Missouri Farm Bureau as we Celebrate Agriculture and Thank a Farmer.
Look for local events sponsored by the Bates County Farm Bureau. You can enter to win a gift package of local food items displayed in the Bates Farm Bureau office during the week of February 6 -10. Drawing will be held the end of the day on February 10th.
Bates County Farm Bureau also invites you to stop by the office on the East side of the Butler square every Tuesday in February for cookies and coffee to express our appreciation for our members and to encourage you to become part of our organization. If you would like to learn more please stop by the office to get acquainted and check out the benefits of becoming a Farm Bureau member for just $30 per year or go to the Missouri Farm Bureau website at https://www.mofb.org/Membership/BenefitsServices.aspx to access the list of member benefits or go to https://www.mofb.org/Membership/BecomeAMember.aspx to become a member. Help us keep farmers farming by joining today! Farm Bureau is much more than insurance…it is a strong voice for agriculture and rural America.
“Agriculture is a big part of our community, yet many people simply take it for granted,” says Mary Fischer, Bates County Farm Bureau Promotion & Education chairman. “Farmers and the agri-businesses that support them give back in many ways. They deserve a pat on the back.”
Help the Bates County Farm Bureau during Celebrate Agriculture: Thank a Farmer week, February 5-11.
