Celebrate Georgia Agriculture Awareness Week

by Jennifer Whittaker, Editor

When our founding fathers settled Georgia, they sowed the seeds of our agricultural legacy. Today, agriculture remains one of the largest segments of Georgia’s economy. In Georgia, agriculture isn’t just a way to make a living – it’s the science of life.

“Agriculture is more than what we produce on the farm. It is the core of our existence and prosperity, regardless of whether we live in a rural or urban area,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Wayne Dollar. “It feeds us, clothes us, and shelters us. To be informed citizens, it is important that we have a good knowledge about where those resources originate and how they are prepared for our use and consumption.”

In honor of Georgia’s agriculture industry, Gov. Sonny Perdue has proclaimed March 15-20, as Georgia Agriculture Awareness Week. Georgia’s geography and climate provide perfect conditions for growing a diversity of commodities from the North Georgia mountains through the rolling Piedmont to the sandy coastal plains and marshes.

During this special week of celebration, there will be many opportunities to learn more about Georgia agriculture. Special events and lesson plans have been planned for the classroom.

“The Ag Awareness Week activities are designed to encourage agricultural literacy,” said Donnie Smith, Ag Awareness Committee chairperson. “Knowledge of agriculture is important for informed consumers, for continued economic success of our state and for good stewardship of our environment.”

Visit the Ag Awareness Week web site at www.agawareness.org for a list of activities, lesson plans, Georgia agriculture facts, and agricultural resources. Test your knowledge of Georgia Agriculture at the web site and earn a certificate!

Georgia farmers produce more peanuts and pecans than any other state. Georgia also leads the nation in broilers and the value of egg production. Although Georgia is known as the Peach State, we rank behind California, and sometimes South Carolina, in peach production. However, Georgia is gaining in other areas, such as ornamental and nursery plants, horses, turf grass and catfish production.Vidalia onions, grown only in Georgia, are recognized and appreciated as some of the sweetest, best-tasting onions in the world.

But Georgia agriculture isn’t just about growing food and fiber. It’s also about processing, packaging and transporting farm products. Agriculture contributes more than $57 billion annually to Georgia’s economy – about 16 percent of the state’s total economic output.

One in six Georgians works in agriculture, forestry or agriculture-related fields. Almost half of the state’s manufacturing jobs are in agribusiness.

Farmers were the original environmentalists. Protecting the natural resources that help them feed the world is paramount to their profession. Every day, farmers, agricultural researchers and agribusiness professionals are working to find more ways to save and protect water, protect our soil, keep our air clean and still produce the food needed to supply our growing population.

New developments in precision farming technology help farmers apply just the right amount of irrigation water to their fields, the right amount of fertilizer to prevent runoff and only the precise amounts of chemicals needed to control insects, diseases and weeds.

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences’ research system is dynamic in developing more productive crops, better grasses for athletic fields, environmental protection measures, and genetically and nutritionally superior food products. Its scientists are known worldwide for their contributions to making our food supply safer and improving public health.

Because all of Georgia agriculture works together to better the science of food, agriculture and the environment, we are doing our part to ensure that the United States has the safest, most affordable and most abundant food supply in the world.