Even though we live in an era where young people are flocking to cities and the latest technology rules the world, farming is still extremely important in America. After all, this is where most of the food you eat originates.
Did You Know?
1) According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, less than 1% of the population claims farming as an occupation. There are about 2.2 million farms. These farms are of all different shapes and sizes. Some are large family farms, some are nonfamily farms, some are limited resources farms. While it is often assumed that many farms in the U.S. are corporately controlled, 97% of U.S. farms are family owned and operated.
2) The U.S. is home to over 40 different types of sheep – 47 to be exact.
Breeds include: Suffolk, Dorper, Hampshire, and more. Sheep can be classified in a few different ways. You can classify them by what they’re used for (such as milk or wool), or their type of fibers, their face color, etc.
3) Although farming is often thought to destroy forests some farmers will plant new trees on portions of their farmland because of the positive roles trees play in the environment. Trees can lead to an increased number of habitats for wildlife.
4) Farming is an escape from computers, the Internet, and most technology, right? Incorrect. Computers are used on about 83% of American farms.
5) Cows are capable of producing 7 gallons of milk per day. 7 gallons! That’s about 2,555 gallons per year. Dairy farms pump out 23 billion gallons of milk per year. I guess this is an appropriate time for this saying…”Got milk?”
Why You Should Start Farming
You Own the Produce
The type of food a farm produces will always vary. But just think about this for a second…what if you could go to the store and buy everything your family needs for less than 50 bucks? If your farm produces dairy products, vegetables, grains, etc., you don’t need to worry about buying it! Save that money!
You’re Interacting with Animals
Did you know chickens eat grass like humans eat spaghetti? Or that cows are social animals who have 360-degree vision? Or what about how sheep don’t like walking through water? These are the types of things you’ll find out with farming experience! Human to animal interaction is a fascinating thing!
You’re Helping the World
If you ever read a news article that’s talking about a farm, you’ll almost always find that it mentions the shortage of farmers in the U.S. It may seem like there are farmers everywhere, but there’s always a need for more. If you decide to take up farming, you’re helping your local community greatly, and on a bigger scale, the world. In turn, you’re improving the economy. Over 22 million people in the U.S. are employed on a farm, and over $100 billion in agriculture related business is circulated throughout the U.S. yearly. Farming is a big deal!
You’re Active in the Community
Everything your farm is producing has to go somewhere, doesn’t it? Local farmer’s markets are always increasing in number. When you farm, you’ll become very familiar with the people involved in your local food scene! And farmer’s markets are trendy!
Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+!
