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 a.m. 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 affects 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 3 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 20 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?
Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207.
