Last updated on March 4th, 2022 at 07:56 am
February is nationally recognized as Black History Month. AgriSafe would like to recognize and celebrate Black history and the contribution Black farmers have made and continue to make to the agricultural industry!
According to the USDA’s Census of Agriculture, in 2017:
- The United States had 48,697 producers who identified as Black, either alone or in combination with another race, marking a 5% increase since 2012.
- Black-operated farms accounted for 4.7 million acres of farmland in the US.
- One-fifth of Black producers had served or were currently serving in the US military.
- Black-operated farms sold $1.4 billion in agricultural products, with 61% in crop sales and 39% in livestock and livestock product sales.
Here are some historical contributions from Black farmers to the agriculture industry:
- Early Seed Planters
- Biological Regeneration of the Soil Through the Nitrogen Cycle and Crop Rotation
- Compost
- Sustainable Farming Practices
- Community Supported Agriculture
- Transportation Refrigeration System
- Farming Cooperatives
Source: Poughkeepsie Farm Project
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