Commissioner Miller Kicks Off National Ag Week, Encourages All Texans to Thank a Farmer, Rancher (3/14/2016)

AUSTIN - Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today encourages all Texans to help celebrate Texas agriculture, our farmers and ranchers, and the daily impact agriculture has on our lives during National Ag Week. National Ag Day, which coincides with the weeklong celebration, is tomorrow, March 15. Both events are geared towards recognizing agriculture and its contribution to feeding the world, conserving our natural resources, and supporting job creation and economic growth.

“Farmers and ranchers play a direct role in the health and wellbeing of our families and in the stewardship of our land and resources every single day of the year,” Commissioner Miller said. “Not only does agriculture provide us with the food and fiber that sustains our lives, it is a major driver of our state’s economy and employs one in seven Texans. I hope you’ll join me this week in recognizing the contributions Texas agriculture makes both right here at home and around the globe.”

The second-largest resource-based industry in the state, agriculture is a powerhouse in Texas, with an economic impact of more than $100 billion to the Lone Star State’s economy. Farmers and ranchers across Texas play a critical role in supplying the world with food, fiber and fuel every day.

This year’s Ag Day theme is Agriculture: Stewards of a Healthy Planet. Farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists and stewards of the land. More so than many, agricultural producers understand the importance of preserving our natural resources. To ensure future generations can continue to enjoy our bountiful and beautiful land, Texas farmers and ranchers are taking innovative approaches to conserving water, growing more food with fewer resources and keeping pests from harming the food that we all enjoy.

From the Pineywoods to the Panhandle, through Central Texas and south to the Rio Grande, Texas is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation. The Lone Star State leads the nation in the production of cattle, cotton, sheep, wool, goats, mohair and hay, as well as the total number of farms and ranches. Roughly 130 million of Texas’ nearly 170 million acres are utilized for agriculture.

National Ag Day and National Ag Week are organized by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA). A nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, ACA dedicates its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in society. For more information about National Ag Week and Ag Day, visit www.agday.org.

Be sure to visit the Texas Department of Agriculture on Facebook all week long for ag facts and more.