Thank your farmer and rancher this Independence Day!

In honor of Independence Day today, I thought I would share some data on the cost of the average

The average July 4 American cookout costs just $5.57/person.
Be sure to thank a farmer and rancher for their role in producing
your cookout.

American cookout.  The typical American cookout of hot dogs, cheeseburgers, ribs, potato salad, baked beans, chips, watermelon, lemonade, and chocolate milk is coming in at approximately $5.57/person which is down 1% from last year.  You might be interested to know that the farmer’s share of that 4^th of July meal is only around $0.87/person.  Keep in mind that in this case the ‘farmer’ means the rancher who produced the beef, the pork producer, the potato farmer for the potato salad and chips, the farmer who grew the beans, the wheat producer who grew the grain for the hamburger and hot dog buns, the watermelon farmer, the dairy producer who produced the milk, etc.  That $0.87 that goes to the farmer is likely divided up between 6 or 8 different farmers from various industries. 

So, where does the other 85% of the cost for that 4^th of July BBQ go?  The remaining $4.70 of that meal is tied up in marketing, processing, wholesaling, distribution, and retail expenses.  It is clear the American farmer is incredibly efficient and productive.

It is also interesting to consider just how little the American consumer spends on food compared to consumers in other countries.  In 2014, Americans spent just 6.5% of their household expenditures on food.  In comparison, Japan was 13.5%, Mexico was over 23%, Egypt was 36%, and Nigeria was nearly 60%. 

We have much to be thankful for this Independence Day, most notably our freedom.  However, let’s also thank the American farmer and rancher for our safe and abundant food supply.

Please also note the following upcoming events:         

This Friday, July 6, Roger Sammons is inviting producers to a ground-breaking ceremony at the Pardue Grain elevator (12 miles west of Cut Bank) at 11:30 a.m. for their pulse crop processing facility.  Numerous dignitaries, etc. will be on hand, and lunch will be provided. 

Wednesday, July 11 is the Glacier County Conservation District Crop Tour.  Producers should meet at the Cut Bank Civic Center at 2 p.m. to board the bus and will then head out to view canola plots at Eneys, wheat varieties at Bradleys, and barley plots at Sutas.  Following the tour will be a free BBQ by CHS at the City Park at 6:30 p.m.  The event is free and pesticide points have been applied for.  Please RSVP with Tabi at 873-4292.