The way we farm in America is constantly changing and advancing. America’s population has increased by almost 882% from 1860 to 2010. Interestingly enough, the number of farms in the United States has only increased by 7% during the same time. Today’s farms, however, are much larger than those of the past and rely on modern technology to feed a growing population.
In 1940, one farmer fed just 19 people. In less than a century, the number of people being fed by one farmer has increased to 165. This change is especially shocking considering that today only 2% of Americans are employed on farms, while 200 years ago, 90 percent of the U.S. population lived on farms.
With an ever-increasing population and less agricultural workers than ever before, it’s clear that technology is closing the gap. New inventions and more streamlined production methods have made it possible to feed the world. Today’s farmers can produce more food using less land, labor, and natural resources.
There are currently 7.3 billion people in the world, with an expected population of over 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. While it’s tempting to idealize the past, we must remember that change is often propelled by necessity. Sanderson Farms is proud to play a role in advancing agriculture. The company’s veterinary, engineering, quality control, and corporate responsibility teams are constantly focused on food safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability with the same goal in mind – to provide healthy, affordable protein to a growing world.
About Sanderson Farms Sanderson Farms, Inc., founded in 1947, is engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh and frozen chicken and other prepared food items. Employing more than 15,000 employees in operations spanning five states and 17 different cities, Sanderson Farms is the third largest poultry producer in the United States. As a company, Sanderson Farms is committed to adopting a fresh approach in everything that we do. Not only where products are concerned, but companywide as well. Though the company has grown in size, it still adheres to the same hometown values of honesty, integrity and innovation that were established when the Sanderson family founded the company back in 1947.