Aside from posting photos and identifying the country’s primary producers the day is a chance to put the rural sector on a pedestal.

We are in an age where there is a day for everything. There is a national day for ice-cream, a national day for peanut butter fudge (perhaps in the US) and even a national day for absurdity. 

So why not a national day for agriculture?

This year, Wednesday, November, 21 marked the second National Ag Day in Australia. 

And it provided an opportunity to explore some primary industry facts and figures and celebrate our most successful stories. 

NSW is certainly a state that punches above its weight in food and fibre production. And the Riverina is often labelled as the food bowl of Australia.

NSW is home to some 26,124 farms covering an area of 53,438,094 hectares. And this state contributes significantly to Australia’s $58.1 billion agricultural sector. 

To bring this industry closer to home Wagga has some statistics that are worth mentioning on National Agriculture Day too. 

The city is home to the largest sheep and lamb selling centre in the world. The Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre, which runs sheep sales on Thursdays and cattle sales on Mondays, plays a significant role stock transactions. 

Wagga is also home to a major rural hub with Charles Sturt University providing valuable agricultural training, and NSW Department of Primary Industry shoring up research and development and the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation cementing the region’s position as a scientific leader. 

With some handy falls of late season rain on Tuesday night Wednesday was certainly a day for celebrations in this area.

The rain, and the fact this area had experienced such a dry winter crop growing season, also highlighted the resilience of our farmers.

During the drought the Riverina was often helping out other areas of Australia in terms of transport and fodder.

It was a case of camaraderie and mate-ship that shined through in times of hardship. And resilience was something that was talked a lot about on National Agriculture Day too.