Seventy-five thousand farms, 33 million acres in production, and the number one producer of corn, soybeans, pork and eggs in the nation — this is Iowa. But somehow through the social disconnect, many Americans, even Iowans, believe that farmers in Iowa aren’t doing their job to feed the world.

I have recently read many articles that slam farmers for using the term “Feeding the World,” because they claim it’s not true. If we don’t, then who does?

Iowa has roughly 0.5 percent of the world’s arable land, and we directly feed about 70 million people a year from the calories we produce — this figure takes into account spoilage, ethanol production, various food diets, above “average” calorie intakes, pests and various other competing uses. Assuming a world population of roughly 7.1 billion people, Iowa is doing nearly twice its share in providing for a global society, based on the resources we have available.

“Well, we are a developed country and have the best land in the world, shouldn’t we be doing more?” many argue. You’re absolutely right! With growing populations and increased demand for food, we’ll have to. And that’s what farmers aim to do every day. Is it coincidence that one of the best agricultural institutions in the nation, not to mention the world, is located right here at Iowa State in the heart of Iowa? I think not.

On top of all of this, farmers do their absolute best to be quality “Keepers of the Land” by implementing the best practices to reduce negative impacts on our environment. It’s a tough job, and they face a lot of criticism for not doing enough. But I guarantee you this; no farmer has ever woken up and thought, “Ya know, I want to find a way to destroy the environment today.” We care about this land just as much, if not more, than most people — it’s our livelihood, therefore we have an enhanced sense of appreciation for it.

The next time you sit down to eat, take a minute to think about your food. You’re part of the world, and some farmer somewhere worked hard to put that food on your plate. Thank a farmer or someone in a farm-related industry today — because we do feed the world.