VOLUME 37, NUMBER 4
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Our career technology programs arlier this year, Yahoo stirred also must be equipped to prepare up some dust in farm country students for jobs in ag-related fields by listing agriculture, animal ranging from farm management science and horticulture as three of to mechanics. Meanwhile, the its top five “College Majors That growing complexity of production Are Useless.” agriculture will require farmers Within days, the Internet was to study chemistry, economics, flooded with blogs, editorials and meteorology, biology and even pubfact-based articles challenging lic relations. Yahoo’s conclusions. A Facebook In Alabama, we are blessed to page titled “I Studied Agriculture & I Have A Job” was even created and have three land grant universities whose graduates are improving the today has more than 5,000 “likes.” quality of life for millions of people The thousands of agriculture around the world. Students who professionals who took on the earn ag-related degrees from search-engine giant accuAuburn University, Alabama rately argued that its A&M University and Tuskeanalysis of the National gee University have a higher Association of Colleges job placement rate than many and Employers’ 2012 Job majors not on Yahoo’s list. Outlook study and DepartBut the college graduates ment of Labor statistics working in agriculture are was flawed. They pointed only part of the story. Agriout that the report focused Jerry Newby culture accounts for one in on large employers who aren’t likely to hire those with agri- every five jobs in Alabama and is culture degrees and that projections the lifeblood of many of our communities. on future employment needs were At the Alabama Farmers Federalimited to narrowly defined careers. tion, we recognize the importance Still, the fact that Yahoo ranked of training the next generation agriculture as the most useless of farmers, scientists and skilled degree and placed animal science technicians. That’s why we not and horticulture at numbers 4 and only provide college scholarships to 5, respectively, demonstrates a bigstudents studying agriculture and ger problem than one writer’s lazy forestry, but we also are working to research. increase funding for career technolIt reveals a disturbing lack of ogy through our representative on understanding by some Americans the State Department of Educaabout the importance of our food tion’s Career and Technical Eduand fiber system to the nation’s security and prosperity. In addition, cation Commission. Meanwhile, we continue to educate children it highlights the need to educate about the importance of agriculture the public about the world’s growing need for food and, consequently, through programs like Ag in the professionals to work in the agricul- Classroom and National Farm-City Week. ture field. Agriculture degrees are not Scientists predict that farmers will have to double food production “useless.” They are essential. For America to be able to feed by 2050 to feed an estimated world population of 9 billion people. That itself and others around the world, we must invest in agricultural edumeans our colleges and universication. While not all employers are ties will have to train agronomists, looking to hire a farm manager or nutritionists, engineers and a host animal scientist, there will always of other professionals who can be a job market for the type of develop better varieties, improved smart, resourceful leaders agriculgenetics and more advanced cropping systems. ture produces. n w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g
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Debra Davis, Editor Mike Moody, Graphic Designer ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION Paul Pinyan, Executive Director Jeff Helms, Director of Communications FEDERATION OFFICERS Jerry Newby, President, Athens Hal Lee, Vice President/North, Hartselle Dean Wysner, Vice President/Central, Woodland Ricky Wiggins, Vice President/Southeast, Andalusia Jake Harper, Vice President/Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn, Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen DIRECTORS Joe Dickerson, Lexington Ted Grantland, Somerville Waymon Buttram, Geraldine Darrel Haynes, Cullman John E. Walker III, Berry Dell Hill, Alpine Richard Edgar, Deatsville Dickie Odom, Boligee Garry Henry, Hope Hull Carl Sanders, Brundidge David Bitto, Elberta S. Steve Dunn, Samson Rita Garrett, Centre John Bitto, Elberta Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116 or (334) 288-3900. For information about member benefits of the Alabama Farmers Federation, visit the Web site www.AlfaFarmers.org. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Neighbors, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001. ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Wendy McFarland, McFarland AdVantage, 133 Bridlewood Lane, Hope Hull, AL 36043. Phone: (334) 652-9080. Email: mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com. Classified ad and editorial inquiries should be directed to the editor at (334) 613-4410. ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: Advertise ments contained in Neighbors do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or the Alabama Farmers Federation. EDITORIAL MATTER from sources outside of the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of material does not necessarily imply its endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation. ADDRESS editorial, advertising and change of address correspondence to Neighbors, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001. www.AlfaFarmers.org A member of American Farm Bureau Federation APRIL 2012