What is the future of Agriculture?

[JD 4520]

It seems to me that the future of agriculture is very positive over the long run and in fact may be one of the best industries that you could be involved in including the supply chain, equipment, financing and land certainly. Water rights and access is certainly important relating to farming.

What are your thoughts?

 

[moriboy]

I believe if you have land that can produce, and its paid for, the future is bright. If you are a young man, and you want to farm/ranch and are starting from scratch, I don't think the road to having your own piece of land has ever been more difficult.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I think you have to be large over night to get much government payments having grew up on a farm and daily driving past farms with 10 plus big pieces of farm machines and a field full of implements. I really do not know any roll crop operations under 3000 acres where 50 years ago 200 acres was a huge framing operation. ALL that I know today Farm the PROGRAMS to make it work out $$$ wise. It is a huge operation or no operation anymore.

 

[DT86]

I believe if you have land that can produce, and its paid for, the future is bright. If you are a young man, and you want to farm/ranch and are starting from scratch, I don't think the road to having your own piece of land has ever been more difficult.

I believe that land ownership and agricultural production in some cases ie livestock production, should be considered two separate endeavors. Long term land leases provide a stepping stone from where you are starting out and where you want to be. Some find large land ownership completely unnecessary. A good book to read on that subject is from one of my favorites, Greg Judy. NO RISK RANCHING

Even with some head start or "unfair advantage" it is still hard.

 

[JD 4520]

I think that the demand for food is only going to become greater and the prices and profits will go up accordingly.

 

[MIKE R]

I think that the demand for food is only going to become greater and the prices and profits will go up accordingly.

And the lack of young folks who don't mind long hours and hard hot labour. Small farms will be gone only run buy a few big companys.

 

[texasjohn]

Trends, worldwide or in the US, have for years been...go bigger or go to the city and get a job. Then, if you make it big enough in the city, you can go small in agriculture with your left over money. Only exceptions are people like Ted Turner who made it so big in the city that they can go very big in agriculture. I have seen it time and again. Unless there is an income source outside the agriculture endeavor, the ag effort is not self sustaining. Thus, you see methods of clipping coupons from the city boys...horse training, exotics, hunting, eco tours, etc. The number of TBN threads discussing the demise of various equipment dealers speaks to the difficulty of that end of the supply chain.

 

[smstonypoint]

Here's a USDA study that looks in trends in agriculture based on Census of Ag. data from 1982 to 2007: http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/176816/eib88_1_.pdf.*

The report "identified four trends that have implications for the organization of U.S. farming. They are declining land and labor devoted to farming, changing business organization, a shift in production to larger farms, and growth in productivity."

Who knows what the next Farm Bill will contain, but I have read that there may be an end to direct payments and major changes in crop insurance.

Steve




* The 2012 Census data will not be available until 2014.

 

[creekbend]

Here's a USDA study that looks in trends in agriculture based on Census of Ag. data from 1982 to 2007: http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/176816/eib88_1_.pdf.*

The report "identified four trends that have implications for the organization of U.S. farming. They are declining land and labor devoted to farming, changing business organization, a shift in production to larger farms, and growth in productivity."

Who knows what the next Farm Bill will contain, but I have read that there may be an end to direct payments and major changes in crop insurance.

Steve




* The 2012 Census data will not be available until 2014.

Thanks for posting and providing the Link.

 

[Pine Strip]

I think Consumer demands against GMO foods will impact farming in the near future.

Overview
"If you’re walking around with a gut—it’s no longer called a “beer belly” but rather “wheat belly”—or so says William Davis, MD, the creator of this diet. He claims that whole-wheat grain has become unhealthy due to over-breeding and modification over time. In addition, wheat and processed foods made with wheat are like opiate drugs and eating bread is just like taking crack. The theory is that wheat promotes high blood sugar which though a series of reactions, causes the body to accumulate more visceral fat."

http://www.cambridgenaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Wheat-Belly-Book-Review.pdf