Dr. Jim Surrell, Journal columnist

Current statistics show that there are about 2 million farms found here in America, and approximately 98 percent of them are operated by families, by individuals, by family partnerships, or by family corporations. It is further reported that just one United States farm feeds about 166 people annually in the United States and abroad. Be aware that it is predicted that the entire global population is expected to increase by 2.2 billion more people by 2050. Of course, this means that the world’s farmers will have to grow about 70 percent more food than what is now being produced by all our great farmers.

Cattle and calves, corn, and soybeans are the top three U.S. farm products. Of course, all of our farmers are faced with significant business expenses, including employee wages, materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation, and distribution. It was recently estimated that approximately $140 billion dollars worth of American agricultural products were exported around the world. The United States sells more food products to world markets than we import, and this creates a very positive agricultural trade balance.

Let me now share with you some very interesting statistics about our wonderful farmers who we are so blessed to have here in the USA. For example, one acre of farm land can grow a variety of crops, including 50,000 pounds of strawberries or about 46 bushels of wheat. One day’s production for a high-producing dairy cow can yield up to 4.8 pounds of butter, 8.7 gallons of ice cream or 10.5 pounds of cheese.

I also found it very interesting to learn that most Americans spend about 10 percent of our disposable income on food each year, with about 46 percent spend for food to be eaten at home, and 54 percent to be spent for food eaten away from home. As we all know, many Americans celebrate holidays with food, and this usually involves spending a total of nearly $14 billion each year for this holiday food.

It is further reported that women make up 36 percent of the total number of U.S. farm operators and about 56 percent of all farms have at least one female major decision maker. It is obvious that we all owe so very much to all our men and women who work so very hard every day to keep our nation with our critically needed food supply. Thank you, farmers, for all you do for all of us with your truly dedicated very hard work each and every day.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books.Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.