| Farms, the U.S., International, and the World Trade Organization | |
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Farming is not usually a topic of discussion for most North Americans, until the prices go up for a head of lettuce, an ice-storm wipes out the Florida orange crop, or maybe, just maybe, there are flyers asking shoppers not buy a certain product (grapes for instance) in support of a protest. The history of U.S. Farms is deceivingly simple. People lived on farms until the industrialization of the 20th century where machines made life "easier." Ask anyone who grew up on a farm and you'll hear "It's a lot of work." Today most 21st century farmers are really employees of a larger corporation. Many farmers are in debt to the federal government, and the way out of debt is to get of farming. Corporate farming makes up the majority of U.S. farms, and the kind of farming is now mostly specialized. A quick background on U.S. Farms. There are many obstacles for the U.S. farmer. And there are many perspectives of what needs to happen. The struggle to farm in the U.S. has become an international issue because of current policies and treaties with other countries (mostly with Latin America and the European Union). Keep watch for the World Trade Organization's Conference.
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