National Ag Day: Agricultural facts that you will want to know

Like many of you, this is my favorite time of year. We say so long to gray February days and welcome the season that breathes new life into our part of the planet.

Daylight saving time has begun, St. Patrick’s Day is in the rearview and it is officially springtime.

During this week of the spring equinox, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of National Agriculture Day and National Agriculture Week.

I’m certain for many of you it’s just another week in the life of a farmer. It’s also a good time to dust off and update the collection of ag facts.

I find it handy to have a few good nuggets of information about agriculture in my hip pocket because I never know when they might come in handy to educate a friend, family member or stranger.

And it is important for those of us who live and work in agriculture to keep ourselves informed about this ever-changing industry.

Here are just a few of my favorites to share:

• One U.S. farm feeds 166 people annually in the United States and abroad.

• There are about 914 million acres of land dedicated to farming in the United States.

• Twenty-five percent of all farmers are beginning farmers, in business less than 10 years; their average age is 46.

• The average American household spends 13% of its disposable income on food, compared to 32.8 % for housing and 17.1% for transportation.

• Farm and ranch families comprise less than 2% of the population.

• Americans consume on average 49.4 pounds of potatoes and 31.4 pounds of tomatoes per person.

• The average American farm is 444 acres.

• Eighty-six percent of U.S. ag products sold are produced on family farms or ranches.

• About 11% of U.S. farmers are serving or have served in the military.

• About 98% of U.S. farms are operated by families — individuals, family partnerships or family corporations.

• Indiana leads the nation in duck production.

• Total U.S. corn yield, tons per acre, has increased more than 360% since 1950.

• Agriculture employs over 24 million Americans.

And just for fun:

• Henry Ford thought soybeans were the future. He had his engineers develop a plastic that used soybeans for the frames of his cars in 1935.

• One acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons.

• One bushel of corn will sweeten more than 400 cans of Coca-Cola.

• There are about 800 kernels in 16 rows on each ear of corn.

• The pig was one of the first animals to be domesticated over 6,000 years ago.

• The Chinese were the first to raise wild pigs for food.

• Adult pigs can run at speeds of up to 11 mph, a seven-minute mile.

• Sheep have rectangular pupils and excellent peripheral vision.

• There are approximately 900 different species of sheep in the world.

• A cow has 32 teeth.

• Cows can sleep while standing up.

• In 1954, the number of tractors on farms surpassed the number of horses and mules for the first time.

Happy National Agriculture Week!