Talking National Ag Day with U of M

Classrooms and communities across the country will recognize the 50th anniversary of National Agriculture Day (Ag Day) on March 21, 2023. Ag Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives.

As this milestone approaches, Brian Buhr, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, reflects on the last 50 years in the industry and answers questions about what we expect the next 50 years to look like.

When you think about the last 50 years in agriculture, what do you consider to be the biggest strides and successes?

Dean Buhr: Throughout the last five decades, agricultural technology has been continuously and dramatically improved and modernized. Increases in both efficiency and sustainability have abounded in everything from machinery and inputs to plant genetics and new crop varieties. Tractors and combines have grown bigger and faster; fertilizers are better; plant breeding innovation has brought crops that are more resilient, resist pests and use fewer resources; soil testing has advanced; we have GPS and drone technology; and much more. As a result, farmers today produce more food on less land using less nutrient inputs. These advances are significant to our work to protect the planet for generations to come, as we continue to focus our scientific efforts and research on climate adaptation and mitigation.

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