Let’s Celebrate Farm-City Week Starting Friday

The Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) joins agricultural organizations across the country to celebrate National Farm-City Week, Friday - Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. Ever since 1955 a week has been set aside by the National Farm-City Council to support educational programming that builds interdependence between rural and urban citizens.Mark Haney, Prsdient of Kentucky Farm Bureau, told us, “Many people today find themselves now two, three or even four generations separated from life on the farm. With so many citizens lacking first-hand knowledge of how their food gets to the table, National Farm-City Week organizes a way that the agricultural community can unify its voice and call attention to the origins of the food, fuel and fiber products we enjoy daily and in great abundance.”

Although the number of farms in the United States has steadily declined over the years, agricultural production continues to meet the needs of a growing American and global population. Today’s farmer grows twice as much food as his or her parents did, but uses less land, water and energy to do so. About 90 percent of those farms are operated by families or individuals.

Additionally, recent U.S. Census data shows that an estimated 20 percent of U.S. farm production is exported and, according to figures from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, agriculture is also one of the few remaining industries with a positive balance of trade. This level of consistent and abundant production comes from the 2.2 million farms currently operating in America and accounts for more than 24 million jobs nationwide.

The economy is strongly supported by agriculture in Kentucky as well. Only four states have more farms than the 87,000 found in Kentucky, and farming accounts for greater than $5.3 billion in the Commonwealth’s annual economic activity plus more than 270,000 jobs, according to a University of Kentucky survey.

Haney, who also operates an orchard and cattle farm in Pulaski County, said he hopes National Farm-City Week’s promotion of the rural-urban food production conversation entices more people to educate themselves about what farmers do.

“A better understanding of agricultural production leads us to a natural appreciation of this nation’s safe and abundant food supply and the many farmers who work hard year-round to produce it,” concluded Haney.

You'll find additional information about the purpose, history and activities National Farm-City Week here.