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Introduction: The Bigger Picture of Agribusiness and Its Consequences

Agribusiness has transformed agriculture into a more corporate, large-scale venture, but this shift comes with hidden costs—both for people and the environment. It’s essential to understand not just the economic gains but also the external, often overlooked consequences of this change. Professor Philip M. Raup of the University of Minnesota was one of the voices warning us about this issue, highlighting the long-term impacts that modern agribusiness can have on rural communities, public services, and even family farms.

Introduction: The Bigger Picture of Agribusiness and Its Consequences

Let’s break down this issue and explore how agribusiness is reshaping agriculture and what we can do to think more holistically about our farming future.


What is Agribusiness?

Agribusiness refers to large-scale, corporate-run farming that focuses on maximizing profits. While it brings efficiency and higher yields, it also externalizes many of its costs—meaning it pushes the negative effects onto the broader community. Think pollution, waste management, and even weakening the local social structures.

Key Point: Large firms benefit by keeping the rewards and passing the problems onto rural communities.


The Impact on Rural Communities

When big corporations take over farms, they reshape rural life. Instead of local farmers owning and running their land, rural areas are now filled with hired workers, often living in temporary housing like trailers. There’s a loss of long-term commitment to the community because most workers don’t settle in these areas for long.

  • Example: A small family farm used to involve both the labor and decision-making of the family, giving them a stake in the future of their land and community. In contrast, corporate farms employ transient workers who don’t invest personally in the local area.
  • Tip: Support local farmers and community-led agricultural efforts, which often have stronger ties to the wellbeing of their region.

External vs. Internal Accounting

Professor Raup introduced the idea of “internal” and “external” accounting in agribusiness. Internal accounting focuses on profits, while external accounting considers the broader costs that corporations don’t pay for directly—like environmental damage or the weakening of social structures. When farming focuses purely on the internal, it often misses the long-term, ethical considerations.

  • Practical Example: A large farm may increase its profits by cutting corners on waste disposal, but that creates pollution problems for the surrounding communities.
  • Tip: Farmers and consumers alike can push for policies and practices that factor in these external costs, advocating for a more balanced and sustainable approach.

The Struggles of Family Farms

One ironic outcome of agribusiness is that even when a family farm grows big enough to survive in the competitive market, it often becomes too expensive for the next generation to inherit. This means many families lose the ability to pass down their land, further concentrating power in the hands of large corporations.

  • Tip: If you’re part of a family farm, explore creative ways to preserve ownership, such as cooperative models or community-supported agriculture.

Modern Agriculture’s Disconnect From Tradition

Modern American agriculture has separated itself from its moral and ecological roots, focusing more on economic growth than on stewardship of the land. This is what some call a “scientific orthodoxy” in agriculture, where the focus is on efficiency, disregarding the damage done in the process.

Agribusiness models promote uniformity over diversity, ignoring the nuanced needs of different regions and environments. The result? A system that, while profitable, is vulnerable to crises like climate change, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss.

Introduction: The Bigger Picture of Agribusiness and Its Consequences

Learning From Indigenous Agriculture: The Andean Example

The farmers of the Peruvian Andes offer an example of a sustainable, regionally-responsive agriculture. They farm in harmony with the local ecosystem, using a diverse array of crops suited to different altitudes and climates. This diversity protects them from disasters like crop failure, while agribusiness often relies on monocultures that are much more vulnerable to disease and changing weather patterns.

  • Actionable Tip: Embrace agricultural practices that focus on diversity and ecological balance, whether through crop rotation, polyculture, or permaculture principles.

Reintegrating Agriculture With Its Margins

One of the most inspiring aspects of traditional Andean agriculture is how it integrates wild, uncultivated areas—its “margins”—into the farming system. These wild areas help with things like natural pollination, pest control, and even the development of new, more resilient crop varieties. In contrast, modern agriculture tends to see wilderness as a threat or waste of space.

  • Practical Takeaway: Consider how you can incorporate natural ecosystems into your farm or garden to promote resilience and sustainability. Think hedgerows, companion planting, or even leaving certain areas wild.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Change and Reflection

To move forward, we need to reconsider how we balance profit with the broader, long-term consequences of our agricultural practices. By learning from traditional systems like those in the Andes, we can create a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.

  • Recognize the hidden costs of large-scale farming.
  • Support small, local, and family-owned farms.
  • Embrace diversity in agricultural practices, especially crop varieties.
  • Incorporate natural ecosystems into farming for long-term sustainability.

These principles can be summarized for social media content:

Instagram Reel Ideas:

  • Show contrasting images of corporate agribusiness vs. small, community farms.
  • Highlight sustainable farming techniques (e.g., crop diversity, hedgerows).
  • Visual representation of the external costs of agribusiness, like pollution.

Infographic Points for Canva:

  • “What is Agribusiness?” with a breakdown of internal vs. external accounting.
  • Benefits of traditional agriculture vs. modern agribusiness.
  • Actionable tips for supporting local, sustainable farming.

The excerpt from The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry examines the stark contrasts between modern, industrial agriculture and the healthier, more diverse, and sustainable approaches of traditional farming methods. Berry describes how modern farming, driven by the internal combustion engine and chemical dependence, has narrowed both agricultural practice and diversity, reducing regional variations in farming methods and crop genetics. This shift has resulted in an over-reliance on external inputs, such as industrial machinery and synthetic fertilizers, while marginalizing the natural tools, local knowledge, and diverse ecosystems that once played vital roles in farming communities.

Berry advocates for a return to diverse, self-sustaining farms where human labor, animal power, and natural resources such as solar energy and wind can play integral roles. In contrast to monoculture and specialization, a healthy farm balances crops, animals, and even trees to support soil health, reduce erosion, and foster a habitat for wildlife. He emphasizes that such farms should be not only independent and ecologically balanced but also human-scaled, with enough labor to maintain the land without overburdening it or the farmers.

The margins Berry refers to are the areas of potential that industrial agriculture neglects: the overlooked ways in which farming could be more integrated with nature, diverse in its production, and resilient to external economic forces. These margins, both geographically and intellectually, offer space for alternative farming practices that respect the land and sustain communities.

This excerpt dives deeply into the themes of traditional farming, sustainable land use, and the marginalization of certain agricultural practices. The author contrasts the modern, industrial approach to agriculture with more traditional, small-scale methods, questioning the wisdom of abandoning methods that have proven to be effective, particularly in challenging or marginal landscapes.

The passage reflects on how the “modern” agricultural industry values efficiency and technological advancement over the health of the land and the long-term sustainability of farming practices. There’s a critique of industrialized agriculture, which tends to favor large-scale operations and chemical inputs while dismissing smaller, organic, or more labor-intensive practices as outdated or impractical.

One of the central themes is the concept of “marginal” people and places. The author presents a farmer who, despite working on less fertile, hilly land, managed to care for the soil and farm effectively with traditional methods, such as using horses and rotating crops. This farmer and his methods are contrasted with the industrialized practices that have rendered both the land and the farmer “disposable.” The story of the old man and his farm, which deteriorated after his death, serves as a poignant illustration of the loss of traditional farming knowledge and values.

The author emphasizes the wisdom and practicality of traditional practices that worked with the land’s limitations, such as using manure, maintaining soil health through organic practices, and relying on livestock for labor. These methods are shown as viable, not only for small-scale farmers but even for larger operations, as evidenced by the examples of large organic farms that are thriving without the use of chemicals.

Ultimately, the passage argues for a reevaluation of what constitutes “progress” in agriculture. It advocates for a return to farming practices that respect both the land and the farmer, emphasizing sustainability, independence, and the long-term health of the environment. The old ways, while marginalized, are not obsolete; they hold valuable lessons for modern agriculture, especially in the context of environmental degradation and the loss of small farms.

Barry Commoner’s argument, as presented in this passage, criticizes the dependence of modern industrial agriculture on petrochemical inputs, like fertilizers and pesticides, which he views as a significant economic and environmental problem. He points out that the shift from organic farming practices, which rely on natural cycles and renewable energy sources (like solar energy and nitrogen-fixing crops), to industrial agriculture has led to economic inefficiency for farmers, environmental degradation, and a form of “colonization” of rural America by large petrochemical corporations.

In The Poverty of Power, Commoner highlights how industrial agriculture’s reliance on external, non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels has not necessarily translated into better economic returns for farmers. He points out that despite technological advancements from 1950 to 1970, farm incomes decreased, farm debt increased, and overall farm efficiency dropped due to this new reliance on petrochemicals.

The research by the Washington University group supports his point, showing that organic farms, while slightly less productive in terms of crop yields, had comparable economic returns to conventional farms because they used fewer costly external inputs. Most notably, organic farms used significantly less energy—about one-third the energy consumption of conventional farms—further bolstering the argument for sustainable, organic farming practices.

However, Commoner stops short of advocating a complete shift away from all petroleum-based technologies in agriculture, including tractors and other machinery. Wendell Berry, the author of this passage, critiques Commoner for this. Berry argues that a true solution to the issues raised by Commoner would involve reducing dependence on all fossil fuel inputs, not just fertilizers and pesticides. Berry extends the argument by suggesting that even draft animals, like horses, could play a role in sustainable agriculture, a solution often dismissed by mainstream agricultural economists as impractical.

Ultimately, Commoner’s argument reveals the detrimental impact of industrial agriculture on both farmers’ economic well-being and the environment, while calling for a return to more sustainable, energy-efficient practices. Berry believes that the logic of Commoner’s argument should go further, embracing even more radical alternatives like a greater use of draft animals, to truly address the intertwined crises of energy, economy, and environmental health in agriculture.

The passage explores the contrast between traditional, sustainable farming methods, particularly the use of draft horses, and the industrialized, technology-driven model of modern agriculture. It critiques the industrial model represented by figures like Secretary Butz, who advocate for large-scale mechanization and scientific modification of the environment to solve issues like hunger and productivity. The author highlights the environmental degradation caused by modern farming techniques—such as soil erosion, the heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the loss of biodiversity—while arguing that this model overlooks crucial ecological and moral considerations.

Introduction: The Bigger Picture of Agribusiness and Its Consequences

The use of draft horses is presented not only as a nostalgic return to simpler times but as part of a holistic farming system that encourages practices beneficial to the environment: crop rotation, use of manure for fertilization, diversified farming, and soil conservation. The farmers described use limited technology and prioritize the health of their land, animals, and community over expansion and industrial efficiency. The passage emphasizes that farming with horses fosters a sustainable, small-scale approach that is in harmony with the natural environment, contrasting sharply with the short-term productivity goals of agribusiness.

The underlying argument is that the health of humans is inextricably linked to the health of the environment, and that any agricultural system that ignores this connection is ultimately unsustainable. The emphasis on affluence and technological progress at the expense of ecological balance, the author warns, jeopardizes both human survival and the planet’s future. By advocating for a return to more ecologically sound practices, the passage challenges the idea that industrial agriculture is the only way to feed the growing global population. Instead, it calls for a reassessment of the values driving modern agricultural systems, suggesting that sustainability and sufficiency should take precedence over affluence and unchecked growth.

This passage from Wendell Berry’s “The Unsettling of America” reflects his critique of modern, mechanized, and industrialized agriculture while offering examples of alternative farming methods, particularly focusing on the Amish. Berry contrasts the modern “orthodox” agriculture, which is heavily reliant on technology, fossil fuels, and chemicals, with traditional, low-input, sustainable methods used by older farmers and communities like the Amish. These examples illustrate how these methods offer independence from economic and political fluctuations, better soil health, and a greater connection between the farmer and the land.

Berry acknowledges the lower yields of the traditional methods but highlights their resilience, noting that while modern farming yields might be higher, they are vulnerable to disruptions in global markets or shortages in petroleum. In contrast, traditional, more self-reliant methods continue to produce yields year after year, even if those yields are lower. He points out that the Amish, despite not using tractors, electricity, or other modern technologies, are still able to maintain highly productive and sustainable farms. Berry emphasizes that this form of agriculture is not primitive or ignorant but instead highly sophisticated, as it preserves soil fertility and fosters a deep sense of community.

Berry criticizes the dismissal of Amish farming by modern agriculture experts, suggesting that their success—despite their refusal to adopt modern technologies—challenges the fundamental assumptions of mainstream agricultural orthodoxy. He admires the Amish for their ability to live in harmony with the land, family, and community while resisting the pressures to conform to technological and economic trends that often undermine these values. Their success also shows that small, community-focused farming can be economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

This excerpt from The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry discusses the problematic focus of modern agriculture on production, profit, and expansion at the expense of ecological integrity, social stability, and human health. Berry critiques the industrialized, centralized, and “agribusiness” model of agriculture, which has disconnected farmers from traditional, sustainable practices that emphasize long-term reproduction of resources rather than short-term production.

Berry contrasts industrial agriculture with examples of alternative agricultural practices, including urban homesteading, aquaculture, organic pest control, and other strategies aimed at restoring ecological balance. These practices, according to Berry, present a vision of a more versatile and localized form of farming that is responsive to the needs of both the land and the people.

The author suggests a range of public remedies to address the issues caused by industrial agriculture. These include reforms in taxation, access to farmland, price controls, promoting local food production, and technological and genetic diversity. Berry advocates for smaller-scale, decentralized solutions rather than large, industrialized “fixes,” emphasizing the importance of a human-scale economy that is respectful of natural limits and human well-being.

Ultimately, Berry argues for a shift from an agriculture obsessed with production to one focused on reproduction—farming in harmony with the seasons, nature, and community needs. His vision is one where agriculture is sustainable and nurturing, providing long-term security for both people and the land, as opposed to the destructive, exploitative nature of current agribusiness practices.

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