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News
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Oregon celebrates National Agriculture Week 2012
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2/28/2012
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Article Content Suggested lead
Oregonians and citizens across the country have a chance to say thank you to the nation's farmers and ranchers as part of National Agriculture Week, and maybe learn something about agriculture in the process:
(NOTE: National Agriculture Week is March 4-10)
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Audio 01
This National Ag Week, Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba would like every Oregonian to understand how food, fiber, and renewable resource products are produced. She says with so many people many generations removed from the farm, it's important for those in the industry to tell the story:
COBA: "We may feel like we are being repetitive. But I don't think we can say it often enough about what farmers and ranchers and processors in Oregon or across the United States do day-to-day, the wonderful products they grow, and the fact that they get they get them to market and into our consuming hands at such a relatively inexpensive cost. It truly is amazing." :20
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The important message for all Oregonians is how significant a contribution agriculture makes to the state's economy:
COBA: "Agriculture's contribution to our economy represents probably about ten percent of the state's gross economy. That's very significant- second only to high tech in Oregon, and I predict that agriculture's importance in our economy is going to grow in the future." :15
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Ultimately, Coba's take home message for National Agriculture Week 2012 is for all Oregonians to thank a farmer or rancher and everyone else involved in producing the amazing food and fiber products we all enjoy every day of the year. In Salem, I'm Bruce Pokarney.
Additional audio: Audio 03
COBA says Oregonians and Americans in general often forget how lucky they are to have an abundance of safe, high quality food that is relatively affordable:
"Most other places in the world don't have nearly the diversity and food choice that we have and the fact that we have- and the fact that they pay such a higher percentage of their income for their daily food needs.." :11
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Additional audio: Audio 04
COBA says food security is another aspect of US and Oregon agriculture that should be considered during National Ag Week:
"We are dependent on other nations for our energy sources. We do not want to become dependent on other nations for our food source- another reason why we've got to pay attention to what is going on in agriculture and continue to support farmers' and ranchers' ability to produce food in the United States." :16
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Full story
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/120229agweek.shtml
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