HERE’S TO THE FARMER DAY
2024
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, North Carolina is blessed with abundant water, a temperate climate, and fertile soils that support a thriving food and agriculture industry, which contributes more than $111 billion to the state’s economy and employs more than 777,000 North Carolinians; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina farmers work year-round to provide safe, affordable, and nutritious food to people at home and around the world; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina farmers will be asked to do even more to help meet the food needs of the world’s population, which is expected to grow to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, amounting to an increase of 60 percent in food demand; and
WHEREAS, one U.S. farm feeds, on average, about 166 people a year; in 2023, North Carolina had more than 42,000 farms operating in our state; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina farmers feed people in North Carolina and globally, playing a part in helping to care for the more than 800 million people who are undernourished across the world; and
WHEREAS, to help feed a growing population, North Carolina farmers are innovative, dedicated, and committed to working hard to help others; and
WHEREAS, land used for farming is a very precious resource, and North Carolina farmers are good stewards of the land, seeking practices that conserve resources while increasing productivity; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina farmers are passionate about what they do, understand how important their jobs are, and deeply value their livelihoods; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is thankful for the two percent of our population who grow and raise the crops and livestock needed to provide the basic necessities for the remaining 98 percent of our people, including food, milk, shelter, fuel and clothing;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 21, 2024, as “HERE’S TO THE FARMER DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.
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Roy Cooper
Governor
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.