Describing the Effect of Ag On Describing the Effect of Ag On Our SocietyOur Society

A quick look at how ag effects all of us.

Agricultural RolesAgricultural Roles

Most important to the well being of our nation

Forerunner of the industrial revolution, the services era, and the current information age.

Responsible for feeding nations and producing goods for trade.

Early times of our countryEarly times of our country

Society depended on an agrarian economyAg employed 90% of populationFood costs took 60 cents from every dollar

earnedMajority of exports were solely ag products

Recent timesRecent times

Society depends on a well rounded economy

Produce more and more food with fewer resources

Americans spend less than 17% of their average earnings on food

Ag commodities account for only 20% of exports

Can American Ag Stand Can American Ag Stand Alone?Alone?

Absolutely not!!A close relationship exists between

American ag and foreign countriesAmerican ag increasingly depends on world

trade for both imports and exports

TerminologyTerminology

Imports-any type of good that is transported into our country

Export- any type of good that is transported to other countries

TradeTrade

We export more than 36 billion worth of ag products annually

Jobs related to the exportation of ag products employ more than one million people in the U.S.

These numbers enable the U.S. to enjoy a favorable balance of trade.

Export ExamplesExport Examples

Export 60% of our wheat and rice50% of our cotton40% of our soybeans30% of our feed grains and tobacco

What would the world do What would the world do without the United States?without the United States?

Make no MistakeMake no Mistake

Food = Power

World UsesWorld Uses

80% of our corn is consumed80% of our soybeans40% of the world’s wheat comes from the

U.S24% of the world’s rice alsoEven U.S tobacco is widely used

ReferencesReferences

IMS