7 Reasons Why Farmers Have our Heart

Farming has changed drastically in the last 50 years. Today’s farmer produces more food on fewer acres to feed more people and dairy farmers must milk their herds every day as each cow produces 70 pounds of milk per day. These hardworking folks deserve lots of the love from their communities for the hard work they do. Here are seven reasons why we love farmers. 

1. Farmers are a big community employer. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, wage and salary employment from farm labor has been on a gradual upward trend since 2010 rising to 1.18 million in 2018. The entire agricultural industry, including supporting businesses, employs more than 24 million Americans.

2. Farming supports women and families. The USDA states that the vast majority of farms and ranches in the United States are family-owned, almost 96% to be exact. And 30% of those farms are owned by women. When you buy locally-grown items you support local families.

3. Farmers help us eat healthier. People today are more conscious about what they eat and much of food found in the middle aisles of grocery stores are highly-processed, grown using pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and genetic modification. Relying on food found in farmers markets is good for your health as it’s minimally processed. Many small growers pride themselves on growing organic, using sustainable techniques and growing heirloom varieties.

4. Farmers help the environment. Farmers are environmental stewards. They consistently engage in conservation by having no-till acres, putting fences around streams, planting cover crops to reduce erosion, rotating crops and collecting water runoff.

5. Farmers help keep markets stable. Communities that invest in farms support long-term viability of food production. And farmers benefit from price stability from community programs like shared agriculture programs, farmers markets and local distribution networks.

6. Farmers help build communities. So many community programs benefit from farming and farming practices. For example, local 4-H programs empower young people by providing hands-on agriculture projects. Extension offices offer expertise in local crops and soil. And community garden plots give those without space the opportunity to grow their own food.

7. Farmers are genuinely nice people. We may be biased, but we think farmers are some of the nicest people around. It may be because farmers are their own boss and work their own hours or it may be because they’re passionate about what they do and take pride in their work. 

Ragan & Massey loves farmers and that’s why we develop products that help them do their job easier, like reducing maintenance around fence rows and keeping empty pastures clear of invasive weeds. See how we’re committed to farmers and check out our many brands on our website.