The Future of Agriculture

[organicusrex]

Please give this a good listen.

http://bullnotbull.blogspot.com/2009...g-to-have.html

Jimmy Rogers has more money than all of put together for a reason; he knows what he's talking about.

It's only 9 minutes long, listen to what he says without any preconceived notions especially about Agriculture. Aquaponics has a future in Agriculture and very bright one at that.

Laws that impede pro-gress obviously came from con-gress; isn't "con" the opposite of "pro"? With the two party system here in America they merely di-gress! (pardon the obvious pun)

Challenge your legislators to work on behalf of the people and stop favoring big business only. If the laws don't serve everyone equally, then they are abridging freedom and they don't have that right. "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Goethe

All that aside, let's think of Aquaponics not just on a personal or local scale but as pioneering at the forefront of Agriculture's future. America's agrarian economic society was far more robust than this current economy run by the Agri-cartels, it's not just a coincidence. I'm sure they've had a similar effect in Australia. Take GMO's for one example...need I go further?

[Castaway]

Thanks for the link. Jim Rogers talks a lot of common sense. Puts a smile on my face to think we'll see all those out-of-work Wall St. Money people looking for a job driving tractors on the farm.

[deehovey]

I haven't listened to it yet, since I'm at work, but I'll put in .02 anyway. The future of small time agriculture in the US is actually brightening. I'm very excited. I'm on the board of the Oklahoma Food Co-op. Our local food system is growing and we've got legislators who are actually listening to us and asking us questions. They are asking where we are hitting regulatory brick walls and what can they do to help. There is a bill that has passed our state house of representatives that is creating an agriculture advisory board. As it goes through the state senate we were actually able to get a seat on this board for either a producer representative from the co-op or a farmer that does over 50% of their sales from direct to consumer marketing (we were trying to come up with the definition of "small farmer" and finally decided we didn't care what size the farmer was as long as there was a direct link between farmer and consumer.) If it passes then we will have a pretty good opportunity to shape the direction Oklahoma agriculture is going. If it's possible here, it's possible elsewhere. I won't get (too much) into politics but this (US) administration is very friendly to small farmers, organic farming and local food. Michelle Obama is my hero, and she's our advocate.

[GaryD]

Hi Dee,

It's great that things are developing so well in your area.

I seem to recall that some of the organic folks over in the US were predicting the end of the world as they knew it......something to do with some impending federal legislation that was going to limit the capacity of small organic farmers to grow food with significant encumbrance. Has there been any further word on that?

Gary

[deehovey]

There's still some hubbub going on. Mostly it's about the Dept of Ag not differentiating between big ag and small ag, and a fee or a fine that is perfectly acceptable for a multi-million dollar corporation is onerous for a small family farm. There is work being done to get a tiered system written into the bill.

[GaryD]

Hi Dee,

So, what's at the heart of it? What prompts the fines in the first place?

Gary