Farmers do their part

Published April 23, 2010 06:54 AM

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Dear Editor,

Many things have changed in the 40 years since Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson declared April 22 the world's first Earth Day. Nowhere is the environmental progress more apparent than on America's family farms.

With the help of scientists, this nation's farmers have initiated another green revolution by using new technologies and innovative practices that help us produce more with less. We have the facts to prove this and, in the spirit of Earth Day 2010, I'd like to share them with you.

Today's farmers grow 20 percent more corn on 25 percent fewer acres than then we did in the 1970s.

Today's farmers produce 70 percent more corn per pound of fertilizer.

Today's farmers incur 69 percent less soil loss per bushel of corn and 43 percent less total soil erosion.

99 percent of all Wisconsin farms are owned and operated by family farmers like me! American farmers are the world's best environmentalists. Happy Earth Day 2010!