National Agriculture Week is celebrated every year in March on dates announced by the Agriculture Council of America. This year the holiday commences on March 21 and ends on 27.
The week celebrates and acknowledges the agricultural industry and the role it plays in stabilizing the economy. The holiday gives thanks to the industry as a whole for being a source of abundant food, fiber, and renewable products. It also provides millions with stable jobs and careers. It also emphasizes the efforts made by those involved in agriculture for providing us with necessities that most of us take for granted.
Agriculture is described as a wellspring of the economy. A strong and healthy agricultural system provides the food supply for the nation, but it also provides the other raw material for the industry that supports the economy. It brings self-sustenance to a country.
Based on the socio-economic and geographical conditions, there are two main types of agriculture: subsistence farming and commercial farming — the variants of agriculture range from being crop-oriented to livestock-oriented or adopting a mix of both. The levels at which farms operate are based upon the living standard and wealth of the farmer.
While farmland may stretch far and wide, the actual percentage of the U.S. population involved in agriculture is only 1.3%, or 2.6 million people.