[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E639-E640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK

                                 ______


                         HON. RICHARD J. DURBIN

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 21, 1995
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the men and women 
of this country who work the land, process and refine our agricultural 
commodities, and engage in the research that keeps American farmers and 
ranchers the most efficient in the world. I rise to pay tribute to the 
U.S. agricultural community.
  As we all know, 1995 is a year in which American agriculture and our 
national farm policy will be in the spotlight. With severe 
[[Page E640]] budget constraints and political pressure to rethink and 
reshape our agriculture policy, the farm bill will undoubtedly 
stimulate passionate discussion about the future of American 
agriculture.
  This year, Congress will have the important task of steering American 
agricultural policy into the 21st century. We will examine and debate 
issues ranging from how we direct Federal farm programs to new uses--
ethanol and biodiesel--to trade and new markets to environmental and 
conservation concerns. I am pleased to note that President Clinton will 
convene a national rural conference in Iowa on April 25 to discuss 
these important issues as well as the future of rural America. I am 
honored to have the opportunity to host one of the sessions leading up 
to the national conference in Illinois.
  However, before we proceed with debate on the reauthorization of farm 
programs, we should pause to say thank you to the men and women who 
work the land on America's 1.9 million farms and to the more than 21 
million people working in agriculture--from growing to transporting to 
processing to marketing and selling to conducting the research.
  It may surprise many of my colleagues to learn that today's farm 
population is only 1.9 percent of the total U.S. population. More 
importantly, today one farmer, on average, feeds 129 people. Forty-five 
years ago, farmers comprised over 12 percent of our population and one 
farmer fed only 15 people. The world's most productive and efficient 
farmers live and work here in the United States, including on Illinois' 
more than 77,000 farms.
  Mr. Speaker, American farmers are the most efficient producers of 
food and fiber in the world. We, as Americans, are blessed to have the 
natural resources and farming expertise that help guarantee consumers a 
safe and abundant food supply. The food and fiber system in this 
country now generates more than $900 billion a year in economic 
activity--about 14 percent of our gross domestic product. Clearly, 
American agriculture has a good story to tell.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to take time to recognize the significant 
contributions that agriculture makes to our everyday lives. From 
production agriculture to research, it is easy to see that the 
diversity of American agriculture touches almost every aspect of our 
lives.


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