Today has been declared Agriculture Day in Colorado by Gov. Bill Ritter and state Agriculture Commissioner John R. Stulp says we should be thankful for the job farmers and ranchers do.

Preparing for a press conference to be held today on the steps of the state Capitol, Stulp issued a statement concerning the worth of Colorado agriculture.

While farmers and ranchers constitute only about 1 percent of the population, he said, they not only feed our country but many consumers overseas.

The most significant achievements are the result of technology that makes food safe and affordable.

"Americans spend less than 10 percent of their income on food making it possible for consumers to afford other goods and services and education for their children," Stulp pointed out. "In fact, most of what a consumer spends on groceries consists of processing, distributing, wholesaling and retailing costs."

He said farmers only receive a small portion of every food dollar.

For instance, a pound of boneless ham might sell for $4.50, but the farmer's share is less than 70 cents. A A $2.50 loaf of bread contains only eight cents worth of wheat — about the same value as the plastic wrap it comes in.

Stulp also called attention to a renewed sense of optimism in rural Colorado thanks to a new market for one of the biggest crops — corn — that can be used in renewable fuels, such as ethanol and bio-diesel.

Demand for ethanol is surging, and new bio-refineries are coming on line to satisfy that demand, he said. For now, these bio-refineries are using corn to make ethanol, and the demand for corn is having a positive effect on prices corn farmers receive.