Agriculture vital

Dear Editor,

March 20 is Ag Day and the week surrounding it is now known as Ag Week. There are those who presently speak of March as Ag Month.

This is in recognition of the farmers and ranchers who produce our food in such remarkable variety.

In the U.S. we buy food in clean markets, and the cost amounts to 11-12 percent of our expendable income annually.

The rest of the world's food purchasers are not so fortunate. The most questionable foods are purchased in open, dusty, fly-blown markets at the cost of 90 percent of the total income.

The U.S. food producer has enough output to feed 129 persons. Much of the U.S. food is exported, and this adds to our national wealth.

WIFE -- Women Involved in Farm Economics -- will be placing the posters provided by the John Deere Co. with a painting by Kim Behm and commissioned by the Agricultural Council of America. Look for them around town, beginning at the McCook Daily Gazette office.

If you eat, you are involved in farming.

Phillys Person Lyons

Member of WIFE, Chapter 8

McCook