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209 comments on DrumBeat: December 29, 2008

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Ignorant on December 29, 2008 - 10:21am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

This is just anecdotal, but I submit for consideration:

As this is the season where farmers get together at coffee shops, farmers markets, and farm equipment conventions to discuss things, I've overheard what seems to be a trend in terms of potential change of business: It seems that farmers who have 20-200 acres that they now use to grow corn, tomatoes, and other things for large industrial food processors are now talking of other things. Some say - that with operating cost constantly going upward - that maybe the better way to go is to reduce planted acreage and devote more effort to between 1 acre (no tractor) to 5-20 acres (with tractor) to certified organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

If it goes that way, we may see higher prices for canned soup as well as cattle feed.

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westexas on December 29, 2008 - 11:06am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Of course, there is also the problem of access to credit. The debt explosion, followed by the debt implosion, is the gift that keeps on giving. The surprising thing to me is the extent of the collateral damage to the food & energy producers. Kurt Cobb had a great article that showed an inverted pyramid, with the rest of the economy dependent on the food & energy producers.

In any case, one implication--as people like Jim Kunstler have long predicted--is that there will be a lot more people working in agriculture.

Here is the key graph from Kurt’s article:

http://bp1.blogger.com/_-uualVqzFPk/RqzoKrjp48I/AAAAAAAAAE4/fV4VTpfl5gA/...

Here is the article:

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/32718

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DIYer on December 29, 2008 - 11:32am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Wow. Climate change will cause 2.5% economic decline, but only 1% of the economy is agriculture. And finance / manufacturing / retail will not be affected by climate change, but agriculture will.

In other words, the economy will be sort-of OK, but we'll all starve.

Is it time for me to start that sheep farm in Maine? (currently living in Texas)

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ccpo on December 29, 2008 - 12:07pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

This article adds fuel to my contention that ACC needs to be dealt with on an equal basis with the economy and PO.

Is it time for me to start that sheep farm in Maine? (currently living in Texas)

You're a couple of years late by my count. Me, too.

Cheers

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Dryki on December 30, 2008 - 12:14am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I'm looking for "interns". I'm thinking to park an old school bus out behind the barn. You get room and board in it and promise to keep digging until you die.

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urbangardener on December 29, 2008 - 10:06pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Crop diversification - good.
Reduce FF inputs and agri-pollution- good.
Switch from Industrial fertilizers and pesticides to organic methods - good.
Reduce soil depletion - good.
Sell locally - good.
Improved nutrition - good.
Folks canning their own soups at home - good.
Reducing carbon footprint - good.

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209 comments on DrumBeat: December 29, 2008

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