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Jeff Dorris

Deliberations from Dorris

Jeff Dorris is the Editor of the Delta Dunklin Democrat

Editorial

Saluting farmers

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Some of the finest people I know are farmers.

I gain more respect for a farmer every time I interview one.

The farming family as well.

It seems they’re all involved in the business in one way or another.

Over the past week I did a little research on farming and thought I’d share some of the statistics I found interesting about this noble profession.

Each American farmer feeds more than 144 people.

Farmers and ranchers provide food and habitat for 75 percent of the nation’s wildlife.

Onions contain a mild antibiotic that fights infections, soothes burns, tames bee stings and relieves the itch of athletes foot.

A family of four could live for 10 years off the bread produced by one acre of wheat.

One acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons.

One bale of cotton can produce 1,217 men’s T-shirts or 313,600 $100 bills.

Cotton is a food crop. Almost 200 million gallons of cottonseed oil are used in food products such as margarine and salad dressing. Cottonseed and cottonseed meal are used in feed for livestock and poultry. Even products such as toothpaste, ice cream, and the paper money used to buy them contain by-products of the cotton seed.

Fascinating facts, but I know I’m preaching to the choir here in this area of the country about the work farmers do to keep us well fed.

We also know how they support their communities, purchasing equipment and donating to a wide variety of good causes.

An old quote comes to mind: “When people have food, they still have a lot of problems. When people don’t have food they only have one problem.”

Thanks to farmers we don’t have to worry about not having food to eat.

Thanks to the agriculture industry and salute the farmers!

See you out there.

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