Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
Today is National Ag Day, and Commissioner Troxler tells Rhonda that North Carolinians have many reasons to be appreciative of agriculture. In addition to providing the food we eat, clothes we wear and scores of products we depend on, agriculture also is North Carolina’s leading industry, with an economic impact of $72 billion.
Even during the Great Recession, the value of agriculture and agribusiness grew by 6 percent in North Carolina. Commissioner Troxler believes it can grow to $100 billion in the future, with the right policies, marketing opportunities and good stewardship of our natural resources.
North Carolina is a growing and changing state. The population has grown by 1 million people over the past decade. That population has become less rural, and there are fewer families with direct knowledge of farming anymore. So it’s more important than ever to teach people about ag’s importance.
There also are a lot of new faces in the General Assembly, and because of our changing population and redistricting, many of these legislators represent urban areas of the state. It presents a challenge to help them understand how important agriculture is.
Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda discuss National Ag Day. To celebrate, visit a local farmers market, eat at a restaurant that uses North Carolina foods. Or take some time to plan a family trip to an agritourism farm where you can learn about how crops and animals are raised. Got other suggestions? Share them in the comments.
[Audio:http://info.ncagr.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_3-19.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for March 19]
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