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The people who came up with and enforce the regulations farmers need to adhere to, by definition, are running the world. These days farms have been so consolid

The people who came up with and enforce the regulations farmers need to adhere to, by definition, are running the world. These days farms have been so consolidated, and corporations dictate terms via contracts with the smaller farms that are left, that the idyllic family farm image that comes to mind when you think of American farmers is nearly a thing of the past. Those corporations, banks, etc that are involved with consolidation and dictating contractual terms with smaller farms, also tend to run the world.

nverno 4y ago
These evil corporations aren't mandating devastating farming practices. Certainly, big corporations, supermarket chains having huge contracts with few industrial farms for example, have played a big role in the consolidation. There are a lot of factors at play here, though, that have lead to industrial farms crowding out all the smaller farms, eg. economy of scale, high capital investment in equipment, and dwindling workforce- fewer kids want to stick around and work the farms. I think it's a tradeoff- a lot of better farming practices require more workers, from my understanding/experience.
- heavyset_go 4y ago
  They're mandating contracts where farmers are forced to adopt practices with negative externalities just to keep their heads above water and meet their contractual obligations, and so they don't have to literally sell the farm.
  - nverno 4y ago
    This sounds like sharecropping or something. Why are farmers signing contracts like this?
    - heavyset_go 4y ago
      Large consolidated farms can outcompete them at scale and automation, so they either enter contracts with thin margins or they literally sell the farm, which will likely end up being part of yet another consolidated farm. Many farmers have gotten out of the game for that reason, so to answer your question, a lot of them got out of farming and whoever is left is taking the contracts.
hinkley 4y ago
Organic Valley is a cooperative of independent Farmers. One of the voices of modern permaculture, Mark Shepard, came up through that cooperative. He’s said in a number of presentations that he wants more people to start new co-ops. It’s the only way to get enough leverage to accomplish anything. Get enough people to run your own slaughterhouse, grain elevator, whatever. Otherwise you’re selling commodities and getting the shaft, while destroying your land at the same time.

nverno 4y ago

These evil corporations aren't mandating devastating farming practices. Certainly, big corporations, supermarket chains having huge contracts with few industrial farms for example, have played a big role in the consolidation. There are a lot of factors at play here, though, that have lead to industrial farms crowding out all the smaller farms, eg. economy of scale, high capital investment in equipment, and dwindling workforce- fewer kids want to stick around and work the farms. I think it's a tradeoff- a lot of better farming practices require more workers, from my understanding/experience.

heavyset_go 4y ago
They're mandating contracts where farmers are forced to adopt practices with negative externalities just to keep their heads above water and meet their contractual obligations, and so they don't have to literally sell the farm.
- nverno 4y ago
  This sounds like sharecropping or something. Why are farmers signing contracts like this?
  - heavyset_go 4y ago
    Large consolidated farms can outcompete them at scale and automation, so they either enter contracts with thin margins or they literally sell the farm, which will likely end up being part of yet another consolidated farm. Many farmers have gotten out of the game for that reason, so to answer your question, a lot of them got out of farming and whoever is left is taking the contracts.

hinkley 4y ago

Organic Valley is a cooperative of independent Farmers. One of the voices of modern permaculture, Mark Shepard, came up through that cooperative. He’s said in a number of presentations that he wants more people to start new co-ops. It’s the only way to get enough leverage to accomplish anything. Get enough people to run your own slaughterhouse, grain elevator, whatever. Otherwise you’re selling commodities and getting the shaft, while destroying your land at the same time.