This is really too long to read, but I scanned it and appreciate your take, especially citing the National Farmers Union which is the progressive voice of family farmers. Not sure I entirely agree with why consolidation happened - it includes other forces including land prices, the Farm Crisis caused by Reagan reneging on loans to farmers who had banked on "expert" advice, financial institutions only investing in corn/soybeans (and basing their investment on CSR which is its own proof), land grant institutions like Iowa State justifying corporate agribusiness over "inefficient family farming" and so much more. And WHY did our kids leave the farm and never come back? Because there was little hope for them there. Fewer off-farm jobs in winter. Less vibrant downtowns on Friday nights...Let's consider that too...
That said, glad to have found you! Look forward to reading more when I have the time.
This is really too long to read, but I scanned it and appreciate your take, especially citing the National Farmers Union which is the progressive voice of family farmers. Not sure I entirely agree with why consolidation happened - it includes other forces including land prices, the Farm Crisis caused by Reagan reneging on loans to farmers who had banked on "expert" advice, financial institutions only investing in corn/soybeans (and basing their investment on CSR which is its own proof), land grant institutions like Iowa State justifying corporate agribusiness over "inefficient family farming" and so much more. And WHY did our kids leave the farm and never come back? Because there was little hope for them there. Fewer off-farm jobs in winter. Less vibrant downtowns on Friday nights...Let's consider that too...
That said, glad to have found you! Look forward to reading more when I have the time.
Thanks for sharing another well-researched agriculture-related article, Kristin!