JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn had the opportunity to write the opening essay for the 2017-2018 Official Manual for the State of Missouri. The “blue book” went live this week. Here is Director Chinn’s essay:
As the proverb goes, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” This is certainly true when it comes to agriculture. While agriculture has made leaps forward in technology, the core values of farm families continue to be passed from generation to generation.
Farming has changed considerably from the days of a horse and plow. I remember my grandpa telling stories of his early days as a farmer and recalling the first tractor he bought. It didn’t have a cab; none did at the time. The first tractor my husband and I purchased had a cab and a radio, which was a big deal. Now, we talk about downloading field maps and uploading yield data when we are working in the field.
By and large, Missouri’s nearly 100,000 farms are using some of the most advanced technology available in today’s world, and they’re utilizing it every day. In many ways, agriculture has been a front runner in innovation to make our food safer, more affordable and plentiful. Crop farmers utilize farm machinery equipped with GPS software to implement precision application techniques, leading to higher yields with fewer inputs. Livestock producers use research-based methods to raise animals in a comfortable and environmentally sustainable way, resulting in the highest quality meat products in the world.
What hasn’t changed in agriculture are the values we hold near and dear to our hearts: family, faith, farming and community. Family is at the heart of agriculture and it is the ultimate family business. In fact, 97 percent of Missouri farms are family owned. It’s not often you see a grandfather working alongside his grandchildren or a mother/son duo partnering in business, but the blending of personal and professional relationships are the norm on family farms.
Click here to read more of Director Chinn’s essay in the Official Manual of the State of Missouri, commonly known as the “Blue Book.”
— Missouri Department of Agriculture
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