USU celebrates agriculture (including the raw speed of the pig)

By Lisa Rose Woodworth

March 20, 2008 | Utah State University has stock in Thursday's celebration of America's No. 1 export, agriculture. The land is the reason for National Agriculture Day and also USU's founding.

To honor both, agday.org provides 10 interesting facts.

U.S. farmers and ranchers produce more than 200 raw commodities yearly for domestic and export markets.

One bushel of corn will sweeten more than 400 cans of pop.

A pig can run a 7-minute mile.

A typical, full-grown Holstein cow weighs about 1,400 pounds and produces 60 pounds of milk per day.

Farmers maintain over 1.3 million acres of grass waterways, allowing water to flow naturally from crops without eroding soil.

Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

There are more than 7,000 varieties of apples grown in the world.

Honeybee workers must visit 2 million flowers to make one pound of honey.

One acre (43,560 square feet) of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons.

Grapes are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. They have been around for more than 8,000 years.

There are about 600 kernels on each ear of corn.

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