AG DAY
Blue Mountain Eagle
A8
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
GUEST COMMENT
Ag lessons
I
n honor of National
Ag Week, March
21-27, I’d like to
share a few things I’ve
learned while working
for Oregon Farm Bureau
since 2004.
1. There’s room for
and a need for all types
of farming.
Organic, conventional,
biotech, no-tech, small-
scale, mid-size, commer-
cial-scale, direct-to-con-
sumer, contract for food
processors, international
exports — all can be
found in Oregon and all
have an important, vital
place in agriculture.
The myth that one type
of farming is “good” and
another is “bad,” and
therefore should be pitted
against each other is just
plain untrue.
I know farms in Ore-
gon that grow organic
crops on one field, con-
ventional crops on another
and biotech crops, like
GMO alfalfa or sugar
beets for seed, on a third.
Other farms stick to just
one farming method.
Farmers decide what to
do based on many factors,
including their customer
base, market potential, the
farm’s location, the crop’s
labor requirements and
equipment available.
2. Big doesn’t mean
bad.
The size of a farm or
ranch does not dictate its
commitment to a healthy
environ-
ment, care
for ani-
mals, treat-
ment of
employ-
ees or
Anne Marie
respect for
Moss
neighbors.
A
farmer with 2,000 acres
cares as much about these
things as does a farmer
with 20 acres. Their day-
to-day work may be dif-
ferent, but their values
and integrity are shared.
Nearly 97% of Ore-
gon’s farms and ranches
— including commer-
cial-scale farms — are
family-owned and oper-
ated. Some are “corpo-
rate farms” that incorpo-
rated for tax purposes or
succession-plan reasons.
These are run by families,
people raising kids, often
living on the farm, who
are involved in their com-
munities and are proud of
what they do. They’re not
in the business of harm-
ing their customers, their
neighbors, or themselves.
3. Part of sustainability
is profitability.
Because eating food
is such a personal act,
there’s a tendency for
consumers to forget that
the people growing their
food are also running a
business. Even the small-
est farms must ultimately
make a profit to survive.
Few people get into
agriculture to get rich
quick. It often involves
slim profit margins at the
mercy of many uncontrol-
lable factors like weather,
pests, fluctuating commod-
ity prices and rising sup-
ply costs.
This is compounded
by the fact that almost
every realm of public pol-
icy, from transportation
to taxes, directly impacts
agriculture. When regu-
lations bring new fees or
compliance costs, it’s very
difficult for most farmers
to pass along those expen-
ditures to their customers.
4. There’s no such thing
as a “simple farmer.”
Farmers do more than
raise crops or take care of
animals. Farmers are also
business owners, accoun-
tants, scientists, meteo-
rologists, mechanics and
marketers. Many are also
eager innovators, always
searching for new technol-
ogy to help them produce
more with less: less water,
less fertilizer, less fuel,
fewer pesticides.
5. There’s more that
unites agriculture than
divides it.
No matter the amount
of acreage worked, farm-
ing method used or num-
ber of animals raised,
Oregon farmers and
ranchers share core val-
ues: a deep love for the
land, incredible work
ethic and immense pride
in their work.
Getty Images
Over the past year, workers and other leaders across the agriculture sector have stepped up to en-
sure a stable food supply in the face of incredible challenges prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Agriculture Day 2021
O
n National Agriculture
Day, we recognize
the unique and irre-
placeable value that farmers,
ranchers, foresters, farmwork-
ers, and other agricultural
stewards have contributed to
our Nation’s past and present.
America’s agriculture sec-
tor safeguards our Nation’s
lands through sustainable
management; ensures the
health and safety of animals,
plants, and people; provides a
safe and abundant food sup-
ply; and facilitates opportu-
nities for prosperity and eco-
nomic development in rural
America.
Over the last year, work-
ers and other leaders across
the agriculture sector have
stepped up to ensure a sta-
ble food supply in the face
of incredible challenges
prompted by the COVID-
19 pandemic. Farmwork-
ers, who have always been
vital to our food system, con-
C OMMUNITY F OCUSED , L ANDSCAPE R EFLECTED
tinued to grow, harvest, and
package food, often at great
personal risk. Local farmers
helped to meet their commu-
nities’ needs by selling food
directly to consumers. Small
meat processors increased
their capacity as demand for
their services skyrocketed.
Restaurants found creative
ways to bring food to mem-
bers of their communities.
Grocers and grocery workers
also navigated new models,
such as curbside pickup and
online sales.
These collective eff orts
helped get food to the mil-
lions of adults and children in
America experiencing nutri-
tion insecurity. Programs such
as the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program; the Spe-
cial Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants,
and Children; school meals;
and others focused on elim-
inating nutrition insecurity
play an integral role in mak-
ing sure that every family has
enough food on the table.
As we overcome the pan-
demic and build back bet-
ter, we will advance an agri-
culture sector that works for
everyone. When I took offi ce,
I made a commitment along-
side Vice President Kamala
Harris to put racial equity at
the forefront of our Adminis-
tration’s priorities. For gener-
ations, Black, Indigenous, and
other farmers of color have
contributed to sustaining this
Nation. They fed their com-
munities, gave the country
new food products, and nour-
ished communities with rich
food traditions. Yet for gen-
erations they have faced the
harmful eff ects of systemic
racism. On this National Agri-
culture Day, I remain deter-
mined to address racial ineq-
uity and create an equitable
space for all to participate in
the great American enterprise
of agriculture.
I also made a commitment
to tackle the climate crisis.
Farmers, ranchers, and for-
esters play a critical role in
combating climate change.
From sequestering carbon in
the soil to producing renew-
able energy on farms, we will
continue to innovate and cre-
ate new revenue streams for
farmers and ranchers while
building a resilient agricul-
ture sector.
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.,
President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the
Constitution and the laws of
the United States, do hereby
proclaim March 23, 2021, as
National Agriculture Day. I
call upon all Americans to
join me in recognizing and
reaffi rming our commit-
ment to and appreciation for
our country’s farmers, ranch-
ers, foresters, farmworkers,
and those who work in the
agriculture sector across the
Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
I have hereunto set my hand
this twenty-second day of
March, in the year of our
Lord two thousand twen-
ty-one, and of the Indepen-
dence of the United States of
America the two hundred and
forty-fi fth.
We are proud to be a part of Grant
County’s Agricultural Community
Holliday Land & Livestock
Off-channel Water Developments
Juniper Removal
Aspen Protection
Pre-commercial Thinning
Invasive Weed Treatments
In-stream/Riparian Restoration
Riparian and Wetland Fencing
Project Planning & Assistance
Funding Procurements
Local Contracting
Printing & Mapping Services
And More...
Contact us at 541.421.3018 or info@nfjdwc.org
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J OHN D AY
NAPA
Les Schwab supported the 2020 Grant County
Youth Auction by purchasing the
following Market Animals.
IS PROUD TO SPONSOR
E ASTERN O REGON ’ S
A GRICULTURE B USINESS .
551 W Main St • John Day • 541-575-1346
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W E HAVE BEEN HELPING KEEP FARM
& RANCH EQUIPMENT RUNNING
SMOOTHLY SINCE 1966.
721 W Main • John Day • 541-575-1850
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