Ag 101: Introduction to Today’s Farming

National Press Foundation Journalist Training

Kansas City
9.24.18
Today on Our Farm
AG FACTS AND STATS

• All crayons have a bit of ag in them:

o1 acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 Prang crayons
o Crayola crayons have beef tallow and beeswax in them.
• The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds
 WHO ARE FARMERS?

• Multi-generational families who raise crops, livestock, produce, nuts and

the basic ingredients of all we eat. 99% of farms are family farms.

• How the U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies farms:

o Small Family Farms - < $350,000 in gross farm income
o Midsize Family Farms – $350,000 - $999,000 in gross farm income
o Large-Scale Family Farms - $1,000,000 + in gross income
o Non-Family Farms - Farms where the principal operator and individuals
related to the operator do not own a majority of the business

• Ag is a classic example of the 80/20 rule – only more so: 10% of farms
account for 78% of production.
SOURCE: USDA-ERS
THE CULTURE OF AGRICULTURE

• Generally conservative, but wildly progressive and innovative when it

comes to production technology and practices.
• Strong sense of community. Farmers are deeply involved in churches,
4-H, Future Farmers of America, scholarship programs and local
efforts.
• Stewardship of land, water and animal welfare is taken seriously.
• Farmers are resourceful and independent.
• Modesty is a core virtue.
• Small world connections abound.
 FINANCES: WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

• More than money….but it takes a lot of money

• To start from scratch—with used equipment and frugal management:
o A 1,500-acre (500 owned, 1,000 rented) corn and soybean farm
in Iowa: $5.1 Million
o A 250-cow dairy farm in Nebraska: $2.7 Million
o A 3,000-acre wheat farm in Kansas: $4.5 Million
• Risk-taking and resilience
• Financing for long-term purchases and annual operating loans

SOURCE: Shawn Williamson

 HOW DO FARMERS MAKE MONEY?

• Most of what farmers produce is sold wholesale as a basic ingredient

U.S. FARM PRODUCTION EXPENSES
TECHONOLOGY TRANSFORMATION

Auto-Steer Equipment…High-Tech Seeds…Satellite Imaging…

On-Farm Weather Stations…Robotic Milking….
Enough Innovation That We Could Talk About it All Day

Adding to the fun of farming:

This farmer friend starts his truck
with an RFID chip implanted in his
hand…it also opens his locked
desk…because he can.
LABOR

• One U.S. farm feeds 165 people annually

in the U.S. and abroad.
• Number of ag workers: 856,300.
• Technology, automation and size of
equipment have dramatically reduced
labor needs for crop and livestock
producers….the same is not the case for
other sectors…but on-farm labor
shortages exist all across agriculture.
 FJ RESEARCH:
WHAT FARMERS THINK OF TRUMP
• 2,400 farmers responded to a Farm Journal survey
question the first week of August on
how they view President Trump:
o 52% of farmer voters find Trump favorable
o 43% find him unfavorable
o 5% have no opinion

• Young farmers are much more bullish on President

Trump than older farmers:
o 61% of farmers under 45 years old favor him
o only 40% of farmers 65+ years old favor him
SOURCE: Farm Journal Research
 TRUMP SURVEY RESULTS

• 70% of farmers voted for Trump

• When asked whether they would vote for him
again:
o 64% of farmers under 45 years old say yes
o 43% of all farmers 65+ say yes
o In Iowa, 54% of farmers say they will not votefor
him & 40% said they less favorable toward Trump
since the Trade Wars started
• 929 shared comments – and all had strong
feelings and thoughts about President Trump,
regardless of whether they are pro or con his
administration.
SOURCE: Farm Journal Research
QUESTIONS?
Need Quick Access to Farmers or Experts?
Want a Sounding Board on Ag Issues?
Need Ag Data?
Visit My Family’s Farm?

Text me at 573-489-3060
 CONTACT INFO:

Charlene Finck
Farm Journal Media
Chief Content Officer
573-489-3060
cfinck@farmjournal.com