As I sit and ponder new reports on out estimated population growth....
The world population grows by an estimated 77 million people per year (U.S. Census Bureau) , and is expected to do so for the foreseeable future. American farmers find themselves in a unique position of having their products be in high demand world wide. To accommodate, farmers productivity has continued to rise to make the supply needed for the current demand. For Instance, in 1910 the average acre of corn produced 27 bushels, and in 2009 the average ohio acre of corn produced 165 bushels (United States Department of Agriculture). This is quite an increase and was sufficient for the 6.8 billion people in 2009. However we are looking at an estimated 9 billion people by 2042 (earlier than originally predicted). Therefore to prevent food shortages, in the next 5 years agriculture needs to be activity supporting and implementing best practices. This situation then sets up for agriculture and interesting situation with aspect to caring for our environment at the same time. However agriculture has historically risen to this challenge, and by addressing this proactively, together we will be able to accomplish this goal.
Links that tie into this topic:
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2010/01_12_2010.asp
http://www.qconline.com/progress99/1farm.shtml
http://www.worldometers.info/population/
The reason we do this
A walk with the Coys
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
National Ag Day
I am so excited to be able to say that I am a part of the agricultural community! It gives me great satisfaction and pride! I made a wordle with some of the words that I think of when I think of farming, agriculture and the Ohio Farm Bureau.
Farm Bureau Wordle
Thursday, February 10, 2011
What is right amount of government?
What is government's role in agriculture?
It is easy to consider government a hindrance to our industry. Especially when we read blogs like http://blog.heritage.org/2010/09/22/red-tape-rises-again-cost-of-regulation-reaches-1-75-trillion/ that discuss how much of our budget is monopolized by regulation. I cannot even begin to fathom how much a trillion dollars is (or 1.75 for that matter), but putting it into perspective that the entire farm bill was projected to have cost $286 Billion for a 4 year period, helps a little. (Although I am sure that the farm bill then also has its fair share of regulations as well). Bottom line: That is a tremendous amount of money.
On the other side of the coin, (especially since I did just bring up the farm bill) I have been the recipient of a grant (EQIP) http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/index.html#prog which has made it possible for me and my husband to position ourselves to be far more profitable then before (while not eroding soil). As a new farming couple, it is so very cost prohibitive to say " I want to be a farmer". The start up costs are astronomical! So in this case government involvement or accessibility is a great thing!
Keeping this in mind, I also have experiences positive government involvement in Ohio through our CAUV program (land tax breaks for farmers in Ohio) http://www.co.williams.oh.us/auditor/audit11_2.htm and even though our taxes are set to go up an undetermined amount of money, it is still a huge cost savings for us, the farmers of Ohio.
So how much government involvement is a benefit? I think the answer lies in how involved we are involved in the government. Ideally the government is of the people, by the people and for the people. The theme there is people. Not just the people who really like reading about themselves, and not just the people who were born into a family with gobs of money.. but everyday people like you and me (unless you are reading this and you have gobs of money :)- sorry ). We need to be active in the legislative process to ensure that our rights are protected and our way of life is preserved. The Ohio Farm Bureau does a great job of allowing me to learn about that process, and I am forever thankful for that. But what if you are not involved in FB or some other group?
I suggest you figure out where your interests are, and get involved... and as time progresses the opportunity will arise where you can get involved. Do it! Get involved, and keep the level of government just right, because it will be filled with people who are just right! Just like me and just like you. I love agriculture and I love this country, and those two facts will never change.
It is easy to consider government a hindrance to our industry. Especially when we read blogs like http://blog.heritage.org/2010/09/22/red-tape-rises-again-cost-of-regulation-reaches-1-75-trillion/ that discuss how much of our budget is monopolized by regulation. I cannot even begin to fathom how much a trillion dollars is (or 1.75 for that matter), but putting it into perspective that the entire farm bill was projected to have cost $286 Billion for a 4 year period, helps a little. (Although I am sure that the farm bill then also has its fair share of regulations as well). Bottom line: That is a tremendous amount of money.
On the other side of the coin, (especially since I did just bring up the farm bill) I have been the recipient of a grant (EQIP) http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/index.html#prog which has made it possible for me and my husband to position ourselves to be far more profitable then before (while not eroding soil). As a new farming couple, it is so very cost prohibitive to say " I want to be a farmer". The start up costs are astronomical! So in this case government involvement or accessibility is a great thing!
Keeping this in mind, I also have experiences positive government involvement in Ohio through our CAUV program (land tax breaks for farmers in Ohio) http://www.co.williams.oh.us/auditor/audit11_2.htm and even though our taxes are set to go up an undetermined amount of money, it is still a huge cost savings for us, the farmers of Ohio.
So how much government involvement is a benefit? I think the answer lies in how involved we are involved in the government. Ideally the government is of the people, by the people and for the people. The theme there is people. Not just the people who really like reading about themselves, and not just the people who were born into a family with gobs of money.. but everyday people like you and me (unless you are reading this and you have gobs of money :)- sorry ). We need to be active in the legislative process to ensure that our rights are protected and our way of life is preserved. The Ohio Farm Bureau does a great job of allowing me to learn about that process, and I am forever thankful for that. But what if you are not involved in FB or some other group?
I suggest you figure out where your interests are, and get involved... and as time progresses the opportunity will arise where you can get involved. Do it! Get involved, and keep the level of government just right, because it will be filled with people who are just right! Just like me and just like you. I love agriculture and I love this country, and those two facts will never change.
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