PIKE ROAD, Ala. (AP) – Farmers and foresters in Alabama knew all about sustainability before sustainability was cool.
A year-long campaign – Down to Earth: Agriculture Sustains Alabama – has been unveiled to let folks know that local producers have protected the environment long before “sustainability” became a pop culture buzzword. The kickoff was in Pike Road.
Agriculture and forestry comprise the state’s leading industry, annually generating more than $70 billion in economic impact. One out of every five jobs in the state is tied to agriculture, with about 600,000 people working in the industries, or in jobs related to them.
“Make no mistake about it, our farmers are the backbone of Alabama’s economy,” said Gov. Kay Ivey, who spoke at the event. Ivy is a native of Wilcox County, and grew up on a family farm. “It is imperative that we be good stewards of the land, keeping our forests full and our land fertile.”
The future is bright as long as farmers keep protecting the environment, said Jane Russell, whose Montgomery County farm raises cattle and grows timber.