Ag Week reminds Americans that agriculture is part of all of us
National Ag Day March 18, 2025
(Leawood, KS, November 19, 2024) – The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) announced that March 18, 2025, was National Agriculture Day with the theme of “Together We Grow.” Activities held on March 18 featured a virtual Ag Day program and in-person events in Washington, D.C. A core leadership team of college students participated in the D.C. events, along with representatives from national farm and commodity organizations, as well as representatives from the food, fuel, and fiber communities.
Jenny Pickett, ACA President, said students from AFA, 4-H, FFA, and MANNRS participated in the 2024 National Ag Day. “Students were interested in advocating on behalf of agriculture and their future roles in the industry. Their participation in National Ag Day activities provided a glimpse of the future of agriculture. It was exciting to learn from the students what they thought agriculture would be like in the years ahead, and how their involvement would shape the industry and America as a whole.”
“More and more, students and individuals were finding careers in agriculture. The industry needed scientists, biologists, food safety technicians, livestock nutrition specialists, arborists, conservationists – one didn’t have to be a farmer or have a direct on-farm job to be involved in the agriculture industry,” Pickett said.
2025 National Ag Day marked the 52nd year of the nationwide effort to share real stories of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture affects
everyone. “From the food we eat and the fuel for our vehicles to the fiber in the clothes we wear and the oil used to make kids’ crayons, agriculture touched everyone in some way,” Pickett said.
The National Ag Day program encouraged every American to:
• Understand how food, fiber, and fuel products are produced.
• Appreciate the role agriculture played in providing safe, abundant, and affordable products.
• Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
• Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food, and fiber industry.
• In addition to the events on March 18, the ACA offered the Ag Day Essay Contest. Interested students created video essays on the topic of Food Security = National Security. The winning video essay was presented on National Ag Day.
Sponsorship opportunities for Ag Day 2025 were available. People were invited to visit www.agday. org for more information or contact Pickett to discuss sponsorship opportunities or with any additional questions.
About Agriculture Council of America
The Agriculture Council of America, a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food, and fiber community, organized the annual activities that were part of a national effort to increase the public's awareness of agriculture's role in modern society.
Plant a Bee Garden
One of the largest threats to bees is a lack of safe habitat where they can build homes and find a variety of nutritious food sources. By planting a bee garden, you can create a habitat corridor with plants that are rich in pollen and nectar. You don’t need a ton of space to grow bee-friendly plants — gardens can be established across yards and in window boxes, flower pots, and planters. You can also get involved with local organizations and governments to find opportunities to enrich public and shared spaces.
Without Bees, We’d Lose:
100% Almonds
90% Apples
90% Onions
90% Blueberries
90% Cucumbers
90% Carrots*
*Source: Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder, Renee Johnson, Congressional Research Service 2010.
More than 90 species of U.S. specialty crops require pollination, and various animals, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, and birds, are a critical part of the pollinator-plant ecosystem. Pollinators affect 35 percent of the world’s crop production. There have been concerns regarding pollinator populations for decades. According to the United Nations, it’s estimated there will be nearly 10 billion people on Earth by 2050. Pollinators play an important role in food production that’s essential to feeding the human population.
Create a Bee Bath
Bees work up quite a thirst foraging and collecting nectar. Fill a shallow bird bath or bowl with clean water, and arrange pebbles and stones inside so that they break the water’s surface. Bees will land on the stones and pebbles to take a long, refreshing drink.
The Impact of Science & Technology
Thanks to innovation and technology, today’s farmers can do more with less. According to Farm Bureau, U.S. agriculture would have needed nearly 100 million more acres 30 years ago to match today’s production levels.
One thing helping farmers greatly improve their efficiency is precision ag. Today’s farm equipment comes with software, GPS, sensors and mapping software. This advanced technology helps farmers optimize every acre.
Sunday
Make a farm-to-table meal with your family.
Monday
Wednesday
Contact your legislator and remind them of the importance of supporting farm initiatives.
Automation is also here. We have seen the introduction of robotic milking, automated feeding systems, auto-driving tractors, crop-scouting drones, automated irrigation, see-and-spray weed systems and more. Thanks to science, we have also seen seed genetics improve. Using things like genetic engineering and genome sequencing, scientists can create seed that is more resilient and adapted to specific growing conditions. This allows farmers to produce higher yields.
Volunteer at your local school and plan an activity with a classroom to teach kids about the importance of agriculture. (Examples: make a compost bin for them to observe in their classroom, or do this egg shell seed growing experiment.
Tuesday
Share what agriculture means to you in a photo on social mediawhether it’s the ingredients for your dinner, a rural field, or a busy market. Use the hashtag #FoodforLife
Thursday: National Ag Day! Research agricultural issues affecting your region.
Friday
Throw a cook-off party with friends. Try to incorporate ingredients your state is known for, i.e. pork, apples, almonds, beef, corn, etc.
Saturday
Check out local farms or dairies in your area that offer tours. Visit with friends or family, and learn how they produce, sell and market their food.
