Trouble Ahead For The Family Farm!

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In the USDA's, "Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming" [EDITOR'S NOTE: See page 175 of MOTHER NO. 66—available for $3.00 plus $1.00 shipping and handling from THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS, P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28791—for a brief summary of this study] , deep concern is expressed about the probable future repercussions of such practices as intensive and continuous production of cash grains, and extensive and often excessive use of chemicals. The report team cites especially the danger of sharply increasing costs (and uncertain availability) of energy and of chemical fertilizers . . . the steady decline in soil productivity and tilth resulting from excessive erosion and loss of soil organic matter . . . and the problems resulting from the pollution of natural waters by agricultural chemicals.

Unfortunately, the cost of agricultural land is often so high that many farmers feel compelled to extract every last bushel from their acreage .. . and that fact encourages practices that destroy the land. As author Mark Kramer points out, "When short-term demand makes the squander ing of resources profitable, resources are squandered. Farmers farm as their situations dictate." [ EDITOR'S NOTE: Kramer's book Three Farms: Making Milk, Meat and Money from the American Soil (Little, Brown, 1980, $11.95) takes a thoughtful look at our agricultural difficulties.]

The problem, in short, is that we're putting all of our agricultural eggs in one large money-, chemical-, and energy-intensive basket .. . and, in the process, we're allowing our backup systems—the family farms—to be swallowed up or abandoned.

When the last drop of oil is extracted from the ground, we may welt not be able (even if there were a rational reason for doing so) to ship a carrot 2,500 miles from producer to consumer. We've encouraged big agriculture (both farmers and market ers) in the name of a search for inexpensive food . . . but food is no longer inexpensive. And the average family farm has not seen its income grow . . . despite the higher cost to consumers of its goods.

That's why there have been tractor parades at the Capitol, and that's why we need to be concerned about the future of the family farm.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There is some occasion for optimism, in spite of our current agricultural dilemma. Notably, the Family Farm Development Act of 1980, as proposed by Representatives Richard Nolan of Minnesota and George Brown of California, could aid the small-scale grower.Information on the bill is available from the offices of the two congressmen, or from the National Family Farm Coalition, Dept. TMEN, 918 F Street N. W., 2nd Floor, Washington, D .C. 20004. Another encouraging sign is the positive attention thatthe USDA has been paying to organic agriculture. And perhaps most important of all is the fact that private parties are beginning to address the problems facing the family farm: One example is described in the sidebar below.

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