History of National AG Week

      Agriculture is the biggest food contributor in America. America is the net exporter of food, which means that this industry is a source of food and wealth. The rich history of agriculture in the U.S. attracted colonists to the area. Since most colonists were European, the styles of agricultural cultivation and production were Europe influenced as well. Colonists also brought a large amount of livestock with them to America, which caused changes in its natural landscape.

      As the population grew, farms expanded, and settlements moved from the east into the west. This caused the agricultural industry to grow exponentially, with a larger variety of produce being rooted. Once the west was populated and cultivated, a wheat frontier was formed. The east was firmly set on cattle and livestock with only a handful of small-scale crops. On the other hand, the south was dominated by tobacco and cotton. Lastly, the north was dominated by people who planted only what they needed, anything in excess was sold to the market.

      It was only during the Civil War and the Second World War that the agricultural system became centralized, and a proper agricultural system was introduced. The Agriculture Council of America, formed in 1973, has supported the farmers and agricultural advancements in farming techniques in the U.S. It comprises influential leaders in agriculture, food, and farming who work together as a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the world on the importance of agriculture in American Society.

     At the same time when the council was formed, the first National Agriculture Day was also introduced, which soon developed into an entire week-long celebration. National Agriculture Week has been celebrated ever since, with full enthusiasm to support agriculture and spread awareness about the potential and vitality of agriculture.

  -HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL AG WEEK

-Attend a local event

The local farmers union or bureau would have organized an event for the week. Participate in the local event or simply attend it.

-Talk about it on social media

Talk about the importance of agriculture and contribute to spreading awareness and being proud of the farmers. Make it a trend on social media and invite others to the cause.

-Visit a farm

The celebration lasts for a week during which you can go visit a farm on which you can procure the products for your needs. During this, talk with the farmer and appreciate him for his services.

  -WHY NATIONAL AG WEEK IS IMPORTANT

-It honors the farmers

This holiday is an official statement of appreciation to all farmers and employees of the agricultural industry. It is through their efforts that the nation can sustain itself.

-It promotes agriculture

It serves to promote agriculture as a good source of income and as a field of research and technological advancement. Agriculture has seen a decline in the interest of people as urbanization increases. So to get the interest back towards agriculture this week is a good idea to promote agriculture and its benefits.

-It spreads awareness

From seven million farmers and ranchers in the 1950s to only 2.6 million in 2017, people are losing interest in agriculture. They are moving to more urban settlements for jobs that are of urban lifestyles. This means that in the years to come, the agricultural industry will have very few people employed, which might cause a problem for the country. So awareness about this fact needs to be spread.