Americans have much to be thankful for. One of the biggest blessings of living in this country — America's safe, abundant food supply — will be the center of attention this week as Americans sit down with their families to tables loaded with food to celebrate Thanksgiving. Farm-City Week, an annual event to promote better understanding between farm and city residents, is being celebrated across the United States from Nov. 19 through Thanksgiving Day.

What better time to think about agriculture and Georgia's farmers than at Thanksgiving when we gather around the table with our families. Farm-City Week is a chance for farmers and consumers to celebrate the partnership we share. Farmers depend on consumers to purchase the crops they produce and consumers depend on farmers to provide an abundant and safe food supply.

Agriculture is one of the largest employers in Georgia. One in every seven Georgians works in agriculture, forestry or a related sector. The aggregate value of Georgia agricultural and forestry products is more than $7 billion annually. The food and fiber sectors together contribute about $57 billion to the state's $353 billion economic output. Georgia leads the nation in producing broilers, pecans, peanuts and softwood fiber.

Georgia farm and timber landowners provide environmental benefits to the state, preserving natural habitats for native plants and animals. However, the adverse weather conditions of the past three years and low commodity prices are driving many farmers out of business.

In 1945, Georgia was more than 63 percent farmland. Today, only 28 percent is in farms. A continued loss of farmers not only threatens the economic stability of rural communities but also puts farmland at risk for urban development, threatening the environmental stability of wildlife habitats.

As you count the blessings the past year has brought, remember to add Georgia's farmers to your list. They have proudly labored all year to produce food to feed not just their families but also the rest of the world. As consumers, we owe them much than they are paid for battling mother nature, government bureaucracy and declining prices.

— Wayne Dollar, Georgia Farm Bureau president.

[Georgia Farm Bureau is the state's largest general farm organization with more than 316,000 member-families statewide.]

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