AGRICULTURE IN THE U.S. BIG ‐ DIVERSE – FOUR REGIONS 2,000,000 FARMERS, 1% OF POPULATION 900,000 TILL 60% ACREAGE 80% Domestic – 20% Exports SINCE 1950 – 170% INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY 26% LESS LAND – 22,000,000 LESS FARMERS DELAWARE SMALL STATE, but 40% of land mass is in Ag 500,000 acres – 2,500 farmers 800 till 65% of acreage/40% irrigated Corn, Soybeans, Poultry Strong Vegetable Industry Within 10 hours of 1/3 of US Population or 110 million people
Farming in the U.S. is a Family Enterprise
Innovation & Technology At the end of World War II, in 1945, • there were 25 million dairy cows in the U.S. Today, there are 9 million, producing 60% more milk than 1945. The national average of 183 bushels produced on each acre in 2015 was over 20 percent larger than the average yield in 2002 – and plant breeding experts estimate yields may jump 40 percent before 2020 and, perhaps, hit a national average of 300 bushels per acre by 2030 .
What does a State Ag Secretary Do? 1. Advocate for Agriculture 2. Regulatory Responsibilities 3. Market Development and Innovation 12 states elect their Ag Secretary/38 are appointed by state Governor In the U.S. ‐ 3 major public sector support for Agriculture: 1. USDA 2. State Departments of Agriculture 3. Land Grant Universities Issues in Delaware 1. Water Quality/Nutrient Management 2. Farmland Preservation/Generational Transfer 3. GMO Labeling (US issue as well) 4. Minimum wage laws 5. Avian Influenza Surveillance
Major Crop Acreage – U.S. Acres Hectares Corn (Maize) 97,000,000 39,000,000 Soybeans 76,000,000 30,400,000 Wheat 49,000,000 19,600,000 Cotton 9,378,000 3,751,200 ALL Vegetables & Fruit 5,463,000 2,185,200*
The U.S. Farm Bill Since 1933 – 17 “Farm Bills” • – Safety Net for economic viability of Farmers: Income Support for farmers . . . . Also, Trade is emerging as a key part of the safety net – Safety Net to provide food for poor people and school lunch nutrition programs. Food Stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Since 1960s) • This created the urban:rural coalition – Conservation Major Farm Safety Net (Income Support) Management Goals: • – Influence Supply (primarily 1933 ‐ 1950, still exists but evolving to risk management) – Increase Demand (1950 ‐ now) – Risk Management ‐‐‐ Crop Insurance • 1990s to today
Farm Bill – Safety Net • Components of “Titles” • Nutrition • Crop Insurance • Conservation • Commodity Support • Other – Research – Renewable Energy – Miscellaneous
U.S Crop Insurance Summary ‐ 2015 Policies 1,203,549 Acres 298,204,110 Liability $ 102,096,955,365 Total Premium $ 9,714,408,068 Subsidy $ 6,054,375,282 62%* • Overall average subsidy as percentage of total premium across 2015 U.S. crops, coverage levels, and policies. • Subsidy paid to insurance companies to reduce subsidy cost to farmers
Government Income Support and its Share of Gross Cash Farm Income
U.S. Farm “Factoids” Food or Fuel?? Organic Situation 1% of US acreage is organic • Corn (Maize) 97,000,000 • acres 4.5% of food sales are organic • – 40% of production goes to animal feed 80% of households make at • – 40% of production goes to least one organic ethanol purchase/year • Observation: When the Primarily fruits and Vegetables Midwest Corn Belt has a • good year – meet demand Delaware – Organically Raised • for both Chicken
U.S. Grocery Stores – 40,000 stores, $700 billion sales/yr Consumer Interests Emerging Value Concerns Cost Locally produced Convenience Environmentally Sensitive Taste, but moving to – Animals Humanely Treated Health & Wellness Organic Is it GMO? 1.5 visits/week $100 ‐ $120/week
The Megatrends Shift in econom ic and trade flows Clim ate change Technology and resource consum ption scarcity and breakthroughs Food and Agriculture Dem ographic and Rapid consum ption urbanisation changes Source: PwC
Thank you for your commitment to Agriculture! The farming, agriculture and food industry needs you – It needs you to be prepared for a wide array of issues, challenges, opportunities and successes!
To feed 9.3 billion people By 20 50 … PROFITABLE FARMS Global agricultural ARE CRITICAL TO production needs to grow up to 70% MEETING THESE NEEDS!!! The U.S. Land Grant University System 1. Teaching 2. Research University of Delaware 3. Cooperative Extension – Perhaps Unique – Bring the University to the People A University, sometimes two, in each state Outreach through Extension to each of 3,000 counties in the United States
My Grandchildren Will they have the same access to food and food choices that my generation has enjoyed? The decisions we make individually and collectively “Future Gaelic Foot will decide their Ball Players! – the future!! McKenzie Boys!” Thank you! Ed Kee, Sec. of Agriculture ‐ Delaware
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