Where have all the Where have all the farmers gone?farmers gone?

Brian Halweil Brian Halweil

Farmers: An Endangered Species

Industrialized countries – fewer & aging farmers

Global South, Asia – increasing farmers, smaller land parcels

Since 1950 agricultural employment fell 80%

UrbanizationFalling incomesRising debtRural povertyUrban migration

-- seek more employment opportunities

Reality:Reality: Marginalization of farmers, loss of

extensive knowledge Loss of community ties Unemployment & health

problems in the cities

WW II as WatershedPre-WWII farmers saved seed, used

livestock manure as fertilizer, crop diversity functioned as pest control

Wartime chemicals converted to fertilizers and synthetic pesticides

Earl Butz: “Get big or get out”Monocrop, fence-row to

fence-row

The Food Chain

Vertical integration of the food chain

Corporations, processors, distributors, warehouses, supermarkets

The Squeeze of Food CartelsOligopoly control of the food system Mergers, takeovers and alliances

create extreme profitsWidening gap between farm prices

and retail food prices

A Vicious CycleA Vicious CycleIncreased production costs, declining

profits, new technologies, increased production, oversupply, decreased prices

Over-supply, declining prices = lower profits

Increased demand for technology

Increased outputs & expenses, declining

prices

The Food DollarToday, farmers receive only 10

of the food dollarFarmer’s Processing, packaging, Share distribution, sales, etc.

Goldschmidt Study Compared two small towns-Dinuba & Arvin - Alike in every way except farm size Small farms have more complex farming systems,

(vs. more simple on large farms) Farm systems require thorough and intimate

knowledge of the land—neglected by corporations More efficient use of land, water, more

ecologically sustainable More efficient use of land, water, etc.

1) More biodiversity2) Planting crops with differing drainage

close together on land with varying topography

- Neither can be done with heavy tractors

Goldschmidt, cont.Small farms create stronger communities

- support 20% more people- higher standard of living- 2 times as many business establishments- More participation in politics- More schools, parks, churches, newspapers & civic organizations

Small size alone is not enough – must have ecological awareness

& motivation

Simplicity of Industrial Farms

Large farms appear more productive because yield/acre is based on only one crop rather than total food production per acre

The 2-crop (corn-soy) system is more simple Increased dependence on fertilizer

CAFOS – more waste/day than Los Angeles Nitrogen pollution & methane gas:

1) Manure lagoons 2) Run-off into Gulf of Mexico (The Dead Zone)

Loss of ecological diversity (our ultimate insurance policy)

Loss of knowledge and experience

Backfire: Tearing of the Social Fabric poverty social class distinctions mental stress breakdown of families ties high rates of suicides security threats