[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 69 (Tuesday, May 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

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                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2012

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 150th anniversary 
of the Department of Agriculture. It was 150 years ago to this day that 
President Abraham Lincoln established the USDA.
  As Americans, we have been blessed with the most successful 
agricultural economy on earth. U.S. consumers spend, on average, less 
than 10 percent of their disposable income on food--the lowest of any 
developed nation in the world. In Europe, consumers spend double that 
percentage and, in developing countries, consumers often spend more 
than half of their income on food. As Americans, we can be proud of our 
producers and the role our agriculture department has played in making 
advancements in the agricultural sector. Successes in agriculture lift 
all aspects of our economy.
  American agriculture's success has been fueled largely by the hard 
work of our farmers and ranchers. They withstand incredible challenges 
on a daily basis to provide our nation with a safe, abundant and 
affordable food supply. More and more, our producers will be depended 
upon to feed not only Americans here at home, but a growing world 
population. I am confident our producers, our research institutions and 
the private sector will be able to harness innovation to meet the 
daunting challenge of feeding a world population that is expected to 
grow from around 7 billion to over 9 billion by the year 2050.
  Agriculture will continue to represent the foundation of the U.S. 
economy. I am proud of what agriculture has been able to accomplish 
over the last 150 years with the support of USDA. It is with great 
respect for the farmers and ranchers in Southern Missouri I represent, 
and those in industry and our research institutions, that I recognize 
agriculture's great success story over the last 150 years.

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