9 Interesting Facts about US Agriculture ...

We really should start off the facts about US agriculture with an acknowledgement to the farm workers. Over 2 million people work on farms in the United States, and interestingly, only individuals and family corporations operate over 90% of all U.S. farms. The agriculture sector in the United States provides jobs to over 15% of the population. (Ref: cals.ncsu.edu)

One of the most interesting US agriculture facts is that since 1982, there has been a 50% decline in erosion of cropland by water and wind mainly due to the cautious stewardship by farmers. The country has seen an incredible increase in the popularity of a special farming method called "Conservation Tillage," which is in use because it reduces soil loss on cropland and saves energy as well. In 1982, this way of farming was at 17% of acreage, but now it has moved up to 63% of acreage. Not only this, there has been an incredible change in the total land used for specific crops – it has declined by 15% in total.

It definitely seems as one of the most interesting facts about US agriculture that more than 31 million acres has now been enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, which has really helped soil loss by 622 million tons since its introduction in 1985. This step has helped restore over 2 million acres of wetland and assisted in providing natural habitat for wildlife.

By taking advantage of the farm bill initiatives, ranchers, farmers, and other landowners have installed over 2 million miles of conservation buffers, which improve air, soil, and water quality. With these buffers, it has become possible to protect wildlife habitat and form picturesque landscapes.

Due to the efforts made by American farmers, there has been a consistent population increase in wildlife, such as moose, deer, fowl, and other species. This has become possible because farmers make intentional moves to protect and provide habitat for wildlife that has resulted in significant population increase. Actually, the farmers are entitled to receive funding through the farm bill to keep soil loss to its minimum, restore and preserve wetlands, and purify water and air that largely enhance wildlife.

Yet another interesting fact is that more and more farmers are now showing interest in the practice of 'crop rotation' that involves growing different crops on the same land. This helps take care of the land, improves productivity, and keeps soil erosion to its minimum.

In the list of interesting US agriculture facts, it is important to mention that many farmers are now actively trying to protect soil and conserve water, and for this, they have intentionally started making use of contour farming that involves planting crops across the slope of any particular land. This also means using strains of crops ideally suited to these specific growing conditions.

By making use of specific techniques and farming methods, it has become possible for farmers to produce 262% more food compared to the production in 1950. It is due to this particular fact that the country exported over $115 billion worth of American agricultural products in 2010. What it means is that now the United States exports more fiber and food to different world markets as compared to what is imported. This helps greatly in maintaining an agricultural trade balance. California plays a big role here, as its unique Mediterranean climate makes it possible for farmers to grow more than 450 different crops.

It is one of the most interesting facts about US agriculture that farmers and ranchers are true professionals and are certified and trained in the use of specific agricultural chemicals. Almost 30% of modern day farmers have attended college and they know everything about using new technologies to test and evaluate the soil to improve output. (Ref: cals.ncsu.edu)

I hope you enjoyed a short lesson on some key facts of US agriculture. Did anything surprise you?

Sources: fb.org, agday.org