Importance of Farming

The Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education (ILCAE) reports that less than 2 percent of the United States population is directly involved in the production of food, yet 25 percent of the civilian workforce in Illinois is employed in agriculture related careers.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 48,000 jobs are available each year in agriculture and more than 300 agricultural careers are available globally.

Investment in agricultural research doesn't benefit just the 2 percent of the population involved in farming. It's a matter of national security, job creation, energy independence and human health. That's according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack,