Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson was joined by Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick, Mississippi Senate Agriculture Chairman Billy Hudson and Mississippi House of Representatives Agriculture Chairman Bill Pigott as Governor Phil Bryant signed a proclamation declaring March 14, 2019, as Agriculture Day in the State of Mississippi.

“I appreciate Governor Bryant recognizing the importance of agriculture to our state and encouraging our citizens to also recognize the value of agriculture,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Agriculture is the largest industry in Mississippi, contributing nearly $8 billion to the economy annually in farm-gate value of the commodities produced on our 35,200 farms. Farmers and ranchers face many uncertainties and challenges as they work long, hard hours to supply the world with an abundant, safe and affordable food supply.”

This designation of March 14 as Agriculture Day in Mississippi coincides with National Agriculture Day. National Ag Day was started in 1973 by the Agriculture Council of America as an effort to encourage every American to understand how food and fiber products are produced, to appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products, to value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy, and to acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.