WASHINGTON — Today is National Farmer's Day. In recognition of this day, the Renewable Fuels Association would like to thank farmers, the backbone of the U.S. economy, providing abundant supplies of food, fuel and fiber for the U.S. and the world. As Thomas Jefferson said, "Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness." Thankfully, according to new monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates issued this morning, America's farmers are poised to post record corn production of 15.1 billion bushels for the 2016/2017 marketing year. That is more than double the size of the crop just 25 years ago, when the crop in 1991 was 7.48 billion bushels. Additionally, farmers are estimated to have a record corn yield of 173.4 bushels per acre, besting the 171 bushels per acre recorded in 2014. Last year, the U.S. ethanol industry used 5.25 billion bushels of corn, valued at $19 billion, to make the nearly 15 billion gallons of ethanol and 40 million metric tons of animal feed, valued at more than $31 billion. That's the very definition of value-added agriculture. "Ethanol continues to be the most important value-added market for America's farmers, helping to drive investment in rural America while allowing Congress to reduce federal farm program costs. At the same time, ethanol is helping to clean the air, address global climate change, enhance U.S. energy security and lower consumer gasoline costs. Given all that farmers do to help feed and fuel the world, every day should be National Farmer's Day," said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen.
