It’s National Ag Day, A Time to Recognize the Essential Role of Agriculture in Our Daily Lives
By Martha Scott Poindexter
American agriculture feeds us all. In kitchens and on tables across the country, we have a wide range of nutritional choices thanks to the hard work and innovation of America’s farmers and ranchers. We in animal health are proud of the role we play by providing farmers and ranchers the tools needed to keep meat and dairy products safe and affordable.
The U.S. food supply is among the safest in the world. Our industry works with the government, producers, and scientists to monitor, address, and prevent food borne illnesses and protect the health of food-producing animals. Advanced vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic tools identify, prevent, cure, and eradicate diseases in animals allowing farmers and ranchers to raise livestock that in turn protects humans from diseases that can spread through contaminated food.
Consider the role that cattle play in our daily lives and how important it is to keep them healthy. Milk and high protein beef provide critical vitamins and nutrition for humans of all ages and socio-economic groups. Cattle production is at the heart of the U.S. agricultural industry, consistently accounting for the largest share of total cash receipts for agricultural commodities. In 2024, U.S. cattle production represented about 22 percent of the $515 billion in total cash receipts for agricultural commodities. And according to the USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. milk production increased by 32 percent from 170.8 billion pounds in 2004 to 225.9 billion pounds in 2024. When cattle are healthy, they more reliably produce the protein and nutrient-rich foods that fuel our food supply. Vaccinations help strengthen their immune systems against respiratory and other diseases.
Then there’s pork, the most widely consumed protein in the world, accounting for more than 35% of the global meat intake. Preventing and managing the health needs of pigs not only protects U.S. farms but also ensures the availability of safe food. Unfortunately African swine fever (ASF) is a threat in many of the countries across the world. This highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs can have a 100% mortality rate. Rapid outbreaks have resulted in the huge loss of global pig populations and weakened the sustainability of the food supply chain, which is why the animal health industry is racing to develop new vaccines to protect pigs from infection here and around the world.
Finally, the U.S. poultry industry is the world’s largest producer and second largest exporter of poultry meat and a major egg producer. Chicken meat and eggs are important protein sources, and keeping poultry healthy directly impacts food safety. New technologies are critical for reducing the risk of Salmonella and Campylobacter, the bacteria often responsible for human food borne diseases.
On this National Ag Day, AHI is proud to recognize the progress and collaboration with farmers, ranchers, and veterinarians who work tirelessly to provide safe, abundant, and affordable food and nutrition for all of us.
