Great Bend Tribune
Part I
Published August 19, 2018
First as usual, a drought update is in order and it will be brief. The state is essentially the same as last week. Remember any rainfall after last Tuesday at 8 am isn’t included and some significant rains east of here should have helped. Now on to today’s topic – Agriculture and Society.
This is actually a class at Barton Community College taught by Maggie Tracy dealing with pretty much what the title says, the interaction of agriculture and society. How one effects the other. Even though those who produce our food, fiber and fuel are a small fraction of our population, they impact our lives and the lives of everyone on the planet in many ways. Very briefly, what are those impacts?
- Even though only about three million give or take are directly involved in production agriculture, if everybody who makes a living directly and indirectly through agriculture is counted, it is the single largest employer of individuals. Fifteen to twenty percent depending on how it is figured.
- The current administration is trying to correct the large trade deficit this country has with many of our trading partners around the globe. Yet when you look at agricultural trade, we have a net surplus, a significant one.
- While we may complain about the cost of food, if you look at your grocery bill and take out nonfood items, food expenses make up less than 10 percent of most people’s budgets. And if you look at the share of the cost going to producers, it is a fraction of the total cost of most items.
- The biofuel industry using agricultural commodities has greatly impacted energy production. It has helped keep fuel costs lower, improved items like octane, and improved air quality greatly. And it holds continued promise in reducing our dependency on fossil fuels across a whole host items in our everyday lives.
- In rural areas like Kansas, even in many of our larger cities, the economic and social health is tied to the viability of production agriculture. Agriculture provides jobs, income for local shops and businesses, and revenue for government.
- And in a nutshell, modern society simply isn’t possible without our agricultural system.
Those are just some of the positives. What are the factors agricultural is coping with presenting potential challenges and negative impacts on agricultural production and society?
- Water quality, both ground and surface waters. Despite major improvements, agriculture is still responsible for nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticide contamination. Also involved is sediment loading due to erosion and pollution from CAFOs, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.
- Pollinator species decline. We are dealing with the decline of insect species responsible for pollinating billions of dollars of foodstuffs per year. This includes much more than the European honey bee. Again, everyone is working on this but we need answers and solutions soon.
- Climate change/global warming. Agriculture is having to cope and adapt to this challenge, particularly the extremes in temperature and moisture. And it’s more than heat and rain; it’s shifting disease, insect, and weed pressures.
- Producer income. How do producers stay in business while coping with bumper crops, crop failures, tariffs, low prices, etc.? This is where agriculture and society really intersect.
There is naturally more to the above lists but this serves as a starting point for next week. How do we address these challenges and opportunities to the benefit of everyone?
Part II
Published August 26, 2018
First as usual, a drought update is in order and it will be brief. The state is essentially the same as last week. Remember any rainfall after last Tuesday at 8 am isn’t included and some significant rains east of here should have helped. On the bright side, there were areas in the eastern part of the state that progressed from exceptional drought to extreme, from extreme to severe, and severe to moderate which is actually some progress. Now on to today’s topic – Agriculture and Society. Last week’s column discussed the positive impacts of agriculture on our society and the negative impacts and challenges facing agriculture and its intersection with society. Today, what are potential ways to address these challenges and problems? How can we bring both sides together?
- The rural/urban divide must be addressed. This may seem simplistic but the values, challenges, and problems faced by both are more similar than dissimilar. This involves active communication on both sides. Both sides need to reach out, not only to communicate their problems but to understand the other side.
- When dealing with the extremes of debates like animal abuse in agriculture, the urban side needs to actively work to understand what is being done and why. The agriculture side needs to develop more effective ways to explain to the general public what they are doing across agriculture through social media and bringing the city to the countryside. A perfect example of an effective program is the Kid’s Ag Day this September 5th at the Koelsch Farm in Western Barton County. This event is celebrating 25 years and has exposed thousands of area children to agriculture.
- Both sides need to fact check what they read and what they are being told. A classic example is the SNAP program (food stamps). We are told the overwhelming majority of people using SNAP benefits don’t work. That is true. What isn’t being stated though is that they don’t work because they are minors. Or city people read reports that agriculture is overwhelmingly corporations. Again that is somewhat true. What isn’t being said is these “corporate” farms and LLCs are family operations and these are business structures.
- Speaking to the agriculture audience. We have to share all the positives and progress being made but also admit to the mistakes and the bad apples. We must admit that while progress is being made with pollution, erosion, and water usage, there is much more that can be done.
- Speaking to the urban audience. Please take the time to understand how reliant you are on agriculture for your lifestyle. You don’t owe producers, it is their choice, however, learn to find out what they do, the sacrifices they and their families make, and appreciate what they do and what they give up. And understand that “welfare” given to famers isn’t making them rich and helps insure we have a stable food supply. Crop insurance doesn’t replace a crop.