 Ag Week is a great time to recognize the organizations and programs dedicated to Ag education. Groups such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Grange work to ensure that the next generation is ready to meet the growing demand for food and fiber. Above: Members of the Dixon High School and Vacaville High School Future Farmers of America were recognized by the Solano County Board of Supervisors, March 13, 2018, in honor of the FFA's 90th anniversary.
Spotlight on Ag: National Ag Week and Ag Day
For some, Ag Day is every day. But
for those of us who do not tend to a farm, it’s an annual reminder of how important a strong agricultural economy is to our nation’s overall well-being.
Ag Week is observed March 18-24,
2018. National Ag Day lands March 20, 2018. Created by the Agriculture Council
of America (ACA) in 1973, Ag Day is a time to increase public awareness of the
role agriculture plays in our everyday lives.
There are more than 400 full-time
farming operations in Solano County, and nearly another 400 that operate on a
part-time basis. Solano County is also home to 10 unique farming regions, which
include Dixon Ridge, Jepson Prairie, Suisun Valley, Elmira/Maine Prairie, Montezuma
Hills, Western Hills, Green Valley, Pleasants/Vaca/Lagoon Valleys, Winters and
Ryer Island.
A big part of Ag Day is raising
awareness of where our food and fiber products come from. From wine grape
production in Green Valley and Suisun Valley, to lamb and hay production in the
Montezuma Hills and acre upon acre of walnut and almond trees in Dixon Ridge
and Winters, Solano County is home to a diverse farming community. The array of
crops we produce annually - more than 80 total - make Solano County the second-most agriculturally
diverse county in the state.
Yet, farming remains a difficult job,
requiring long hours for what can be little return, financially. Ag
Commissioners up and down the Sacramento Valley note that fewer people are
getting into farming, or taking over the family farm when the time comes. The
average age of the principal farm operator has risen from age 50.5 in 1982, to
age 58.3 in 2012, according to a recent report in the Sacramento Business
Journal.
While advances in technology and
shifts in marketing have allowed farmers to do more with less, the pressure to
produce is only going to increase. The American Farm Bureau Federation predicts
the world’s farmers will need to produce 70 percent more food than they do
today to meet the growth in population over the next 30 years.
In Solano County, we’re fortunate to
have active organizations such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Grange.
These programs help youth learn leadership and life skills as they perform
hands-on work in an Ag-related discipline. These organizations are working to
ensure that we have the next generation ready to meet the growing demand for
food and fiber in the coming decades.
Ag Day and Ag Week is great time to
celebrate the farmers and ranchers who contribute to our Ag economy. It’s also
a time to recognize the need to educate our youth about the importance of our
food supply and expose them to the possibilities of a career in agriculture.
Awareness is carried out at the local
level.
In addition to a presentation about
Ag Day before the Board of Supervisors during the March 13 regular meeting, the Solano County
Fair Association will host its 16th annual Youth Ag Day on March 20, 2018 at the
Solano County Fairgrounds. This event is open to Solano County third-graders
and brings together farmers, ranchers and local businesses to provide informative
presentations and interactive displays. For more information, please visit http://www.scfair.com/youthagday.html.
Spotlight on Ag is a
recurring segment highlighting agriculture in Solano County.
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Since 2003, Supervisor John M. Vasquez has had the privilege to represent the 4th Supervisorial District covering Northern Solano County. The district includes portions of Vacaville and Dixon. |
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