No. 1 industry

Dear Editor,

This week, March 18-24, the United States celebrates National Agriculture Week as a time to highlight the importance of agriculture to all Americans. Here in Nebraska, agriculture is our Number 1 industry -- contributing more than $9 billion to the state's economy each year.

Today, one of every three jobs in Nebraska exists because of agriculture -- up from the 1990s when the number was one in four. As food and other agricultural products move from the farm or ranch to the consumer, they create jobs in food and fuel processing, transportation, distribution, finance, marketing, retail and research.

During National Agriculture Week and throughout the year, we commend the farmers and ranchers of southwest Nebraska for their role in the growth of our great state. 

Sincerely,

Lory Cappel

Red Willow County

Farm Bureau