National Farm Rescuer Day
National Farm Rescuer Day is a holiday observed on the third Thursday in March. This holiday is dedicated to the people who help farmers plant their seeds and harvest their crops.
Every year, the nonprofit organization Farm Rescue assists farmers when they face dire circumstances and need help to continue their work. It is also a holiday where average people are encouraged to donate money to organizations that provide aid to farmers.
The History of National Farm Rescuer Day
Farm Rescue, an organization founded in 2005 by Bill Gross, has helped hundreds of farm families over the years. A few years later, National Farm Rescuer Day was established as a holiday to encourage people to contribute to organizations that support farmers and family farms, and to highlight the challenges many family farms encounter.
Facts About U.S. Farms & Farmers
We wanted to highlight some important facts about farmers and farms in the United States, so we conducted research and listed the most interesting facts we found below.
- There are more than 2 million farms in the U.S.
- Approximately 3 million people are employed by the country’s farms.
- One U.S. farm can feed about 166 people annually.
- The United States has over 900 million acres of farmland.
- Less than a third of all U.S. farm operators are women.
- Dairy cows in the U.S. produce more than 218 billion pounds of milk each year.
- Many farmers need to work additional jobs just to make ends meet.
- Less than 1% of farmland in the U.S. is certified organic.
Observing National Farm Rescuer Day
This day is an excellent opportunity for people to volunteer their time and money to organizations that support farmers. People can also spread the word about this holiday and encourage others to donate their time, skills, and money by using the hashtag #NationalFarmRescuerDay.