This Thanksgiving, Thank Farmers

Today, people in the U.S. are sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner and asking each other the question, “What were you grateful for this year?” I like this tradition because it encourages us to think about the many things we take for granted.

2019 has been a particularly hard year for farmers across the world. Record-breaking rains and floods in the U.S., and excessive heat and drought in Europe and other parts of the world, have diminished harvests. Agricultural commodity prices are low, cutting into profit margins, and international trade disputes are making it harder to participate in global markets. In the U.S., farm bankruptcies are up 24% compared to last year.

And yet, I’m seeing farmers and everyone working in ag rising to these challenges, just as they always have. For everyone sitting around a table piled high with Thanksgiving yams, green beans and turkey, consider this: Today, one U.S. farmer feeds an average of 168 people. (In 1960, that average was just 46 people.) That’s because the ancient art of farming keeps moving forward into the future, leveraging scientific ingenuity so that farmers can keep producing more with less just as our population grows.

Just a few examples of how farmers are facing today’s challenges: Smallholder farmers are using smart phones to share knowledge and access new markets. Plant breeders provide farmers with new varieties of crops that are more resilient to stress factors in the field, require fewer resources and inputs, have longer shelf lives, and more. Innovative crop protection tools and biotechnology help them increase yields by tackling the pests, weeds and diseases that, just like the climate, are constantly evolving. And digital farming technology has made farming more precise and efficient.

In short: Thanks to farmers, most of us have plenty of food on our tables, on Thanksgiving and every day of the year.

And it’s not just about quantity. Because of farmers’ tireless efforts, consumers have more choices than ever. So many delicious apple varieties to bake into apple pies, so many enticing fruit, vegetable, and grain options to please every palate, all year long. Whether you eat organic or conventional, vegetarian, vegan or something else, you know that you can thank a farmer for helping bring nutritious food to your plate.

Farmers and other ag industry professionals are thinking about the future, too. While farmers are working to feed more people, they’re also working to ensure that their practices are sustainable and kind to our planet. The latest innovations in ag research and technology are helping farmers preserve soil health, protect wildlife habitats, and foster biodiversity in local ecosystems.

As you gather with your family this week or in the coming months, remember to #ThankAFarmer for the abundance, the choice and the care they bring to all of our tables.

Happy Thanksgiving!