FOR MOST, THIS YEAR'S FOOD BILL PAID TODAY

Today is Food Check-out Day in Missouri and across the nation, marking the day Americans on average will have earned enough to pay for the family's entire food supply for the year, including food prepared and eaten in and outside the home.

"Food Check-out Day is being promoted nationwide," said Linda Job, a member of the Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau."

"This achievement is something to celebrate," said Job. "It's our way of calling attention to the fact that Americans enjoy the world's least expensive and safest food supply. It speaks highly of our nation's standard of living, which would certainly be reduced without the affordable, domestic food supply produced by America's farmers and ranchers."

The local Farm Bureau will commemorate Food Check-out Day today at Country Mart in Jackson, where representatives will be on hand from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. launching a "Thank a Farmer" campaign.

Farmers and ranchers play a big role in America's food products. "Today one farmer produces enough to feed 129 people," said Job. "Next time you meet a farmer or rancher, take time to say thanks for a job well done."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says on average American consumers spend 10.7 percent of their disposable income on food, about 40 days' earnings.

In contrast, last year Americans had to work until May 10 to pay all of their taxes for the year, two months longer than was required to pay their food bill.

Missouri has more than 110,000 farmers farming about 30.1 million acres.

While Americans have come to rely on affordable food prices, that is not true for all of the world's citizens. While Americans devote only 10.7 percent of their incomes to buying food, Mexico's citizens have to spend up to 33 percent of their income for food.

United Nations statistics show these percentages: South Africa, 27 percent; Spain, 21 percent; New Zealand, 15.7 percent; Australia, 14.6 percent; Sweden, 14.5 percent; France, 15.2 percent; and United Kingdom, 11.5 percent.

The percent of disposable personal income spent for food in the United States has declined over the past 25 years. In 1975, Food Check-out Day would have been 11 days later, on Feb. 20. This marks the third year for Food Check-out Day.

Missouri farmers and ranchers are among the nation's leading purebred livestock producers. Large quantities of beef cattle and hogs are raised, Missouri's poultry continues to grow and aquaculture is active.

Four percent of the U.S. hog operations are in Missouri, 6 percent of the U.S. cattle operations are here and 8 percent of turkeys are raised in Missouri.

Missouri is second in the number of farms, second in beef cattle, sixth in rice production, ninth in watermelon and 10th in corn. Missouri ranks 15th in red meat production, 15th in milk production, 14th in egg production, and 15th in chicken production. Other food crops include apples, peaches, grapes and potatoes.