Public literacy about agriculture: What is it? What is it for?

At one time, most of the U.S. population were either farmers or indirectly involved in agriculture. Today’s farm population comprises just 2% of the U.S. population. In 1860, the American farmer produced, on average, enough food and fiber for himself and four other people; by 1900, the ratio was 1 to 7; by 1940,l to 11; by 1960,l to 25. By 1985, each farmer produced enough food and fiber to support 80 people, 25 of them living in other countries.