Farmers must be educated in various subjects studied in school, such as math, science, history, and computer science.

From day to day, one season to the next a farmer’s education allows for the many different jobs he must be able to do on his farm. We call this “Wearing Many Hats.”

Business Manager
A farmer keeps a record of income and expenses and balances accounts. They develop marketing strategies to sell their products, make payments and payrolls, and keep an inventory of equipment, products and land.
Meteorologist
The weather determines what a farmer will do each day, so a farmer must understand weather and climate; be aware of possible weather changes and how to prepare for these changes.
Scientist
Farmers must understand soil composition and determine the best fertilizer and seed for largest production and the effect of chemicals on animal and plant life.
Engineer
Plan and construct fences and buildings, build irrigation ditches and control the flow of water; design animal waste systems.
Mechanic-Carpenter
The farmer must be able to operate and maintain simple and complicated machinery, make repairs and keep machines and buildings, like the barn, in good working order.
Political Advocate
A farmer is concerned with government policies that affect agriculture and the well being of our nation. They recognize the value of education lawmakers about the importance of agriculture to our economy at county, state and national levels.
Historian
A farmer knows the history of his land and crops and keeps records of seed varieties planted, yields and weather conditions from previous years. This will enable the farmer to produce healthier high yielding crops.
Forest Ranger
Farmers must be able to recognize the various kinds of trees; manage wood lots, detect fires and know the methods for controlling them; Clear trees from land; prevent soil erosion; and protect water quality
Veterinarian
Farmers must be able to recognize early signs of disease, administer medicine, and care for wounds and injuries. They also assist at birth of animals
Nutritionist
Farmer provides the four basic food groups; dairy, meat, breads and grains and fruits and vegetables. He must know how to prepare feed rations and nutrients for best growth and production of livestock and crops.

 

The American Farmer PDF

Did You Know?
• Most American farms are still family farms.
• Farmers and ranchers make up less than 2% of the population.
• One farmer can feed 143 people.
• The average size of a U.S. farm is approximately 450 acres.

What is produced on America’s farms?  (billions of pounds)
• Grains (Corn, Wheat, Oats, Rice, Barley, Rye, Sorghum and Millet) – 798.2
• Hay and Silage – 522.2
• Oilseeds (Soybeans, Sunflowers, Peanuts, Canola, Cottonseed, Mustard Seed, Flaxseed, Rapeseed and Safflower) – 211.9
• Dairy Products – 177.0
• Horticulture (Vegetables, Citrus, Non-citrus Fruits and Nuts) – 138.9
• Cotton, Tobacco, Sugarbeets, Sugarcane – 120.9
• Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Coffee, Ginger Root, Hops, Peppermint Oil, Spearmint Oil and Taro – 44.0
• Poultry (Turkeys and Broilers) – 40.8
• Beef and Veal – 24.8
• Pork – 20.7
• Eggs – 9.6
• Dry Beans, Peas, Lentils – 4.8

Total Annual Production: 2,114,961,425,000 pounds

Major Uses of Land in United States:
• Cropland – 20%
• Grassland, pasture and range – 26%
• Forest-use land – 29%
• Special Uses – 13%
• Miscellaneous Land – 10%
• Urban Land – 3%

 

MyPyramid – What it all means PDF

The new MyPyramid is a personalized approach to healthy eating and physical activity.

Physical Activity
Exercise and physical activity is represented by the steps and the person climbing them.  Daily physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

Moderation
As you move up the pyramid, each food group narrows. The wider base symbolizes foods that have little or no solid fats or added sugars.  You should choose to eat these foods more often.  The narrower top symbolizes the foods that contain more added sugars and solid fats.  The more active you are, the more of these foods can fit into your diet.

Personalization
Personalization is shown by the person on the steps and the slogan.  Online at MyPyramid.gov, you can personalize a pyramid with the kinds and amounts of each food you should eat every day.

Proportionality
Proportionality is represented by the different widths of the food group bands.  The widths suggest how much food a person should choose from each group.  The widths are just a general guide, not the exact proportions.  Check the website for how much is right for you. 

Variety
Variety is shown by the six color bands representing the five food groups of the pyramid and oils.  Foods from all of these groups are needed each day for good health.

 

The Farmer Grows a Rainbow PDF

• The American farmer provides us with the rainbow of healthy foods that MyPyramid recommends.

• Grains (orange)
- Farmers grow fields of grains like wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, and barley that can be made into foods like: Bread, Oatmeal, and Pasta
- Grains give us energy and fiber.

• Vegetables (green)  
- Vegetable farmers provide us with a variety of healthy foods from their gardens and fields.  They grow vegetables like: Lettuce, Carrots, Broccoli
- Vegetables are rich in vitamins A, E and C.

• Fruits (red)
- Some farmers care for orchards and vineyards where fruits are grown.  They grow fruits like: Apples, Grapes, and Berries
- Fruits are high in potassium, fiber and vitamin C.

• Oils (yellow)
- Oils come from many different plants and even fish.  Foods in the oils group are used:
As Cooking Oil, for Frying foods, and Butter
- Oils contain essential fatty acids and vitamin E.

• Milk (blue)
- Farmers can also own a dairy.  Here, dairy cows are cared for and milked to give us the foods we find in the milk group.  These are foods like: Milk, Ice Cream, and Cheese
- Foods in the milk group have calcium and vitamin D.

• Meat and Beans (purple)
- Sometimes, farmers raise animals like cattle, poultry, swine and even catfish.  These farmers are also called ranchers.  These animals give us the meat found in the meat group.  Farmers also grow the beans which are found in the meat group too.  In the meat and bean group, you will find foods like: Hamburgers, Fish, and Beans
- The meats and beans group is high in protein and iron.

 

A Healthy Diet PDF

A healthy diet is one that:
• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

 

Where Does Your Food Dollar Go? PDF

• 38.5 cents – Off Farm Labor
• 8 cents – Packaging
• 4 cents – Transportation
• 3.5 cents – Energy
• 4.5 cents – Profits
• 4 cents – Advertising
• 3.5 cents – Depreciation
• 4.5 cents – Rent
• 2.5 cents – Interest
• 1.5 cents – Repairs
• 3.5 cents – Business Taxes
• 3 cents – Other Costs

81 Cents (Off Farm)
• Cost (marketing expenses associated with processing, wholesaling, distributing and retailing of food products) accounts for 81 cents of every retail dollar spent on food.

19 Cents (Farmers & Ranchers)
• Receive only 19 cents out of every retail dollar spent on food that is eaten at home and away from home. In 1980, farmers received 31 cents out of every retail dollar spent on food in America.

Other Cost…
• Include property taxes and insurance; accounting and professional services; promotion; bad debts and many miscellaneous items.

 

Proper Portions PDF

	Food Item	Measurement	Comparison
	Chopped Vegetables	½ cup	Computer Mouse
	Fresh Fruit	½ cup	7 Cotton Balls
	Pasta	½ cup	Cup Cake Liner
	Meat	2-3 oz	Deck of Playing Cards
	Salad Dressing	2 T	Ping Pong Ball
	Yogurt	1 cup	Tennis Ball
	Ice Cream	½ cup	Tennis Ball
	Butter	1 t.	Postage Stamp
	Nuts	1 oz	Amount you can hold in your hand
	Peanut Butter	2 T	Film Canister

• Portion size is the amount we eat at a meal or snack.
• The larger portions that Americans are served today make it easy for us to eat more than we need, but we can use measurements and comparisons to make sure that we consume the proper portions.