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Article: The end of the American farm?(includes related article on agriculture)
- Article from:
- The Futurist
- Article date:
- April 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 World Future Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Farming is an increasingly expensive lifestyle choice in the United States. As the nation turns to cheaper imported foods, smart farmers are selling their land to developers, but not happily.
Most Americans could not care less if farming and ranching disappear, as long as they get their burgers and fries. America will waddle on. The U.S. economy no longer needs agriculture and is rapidly outgrowing it. Voters support urban positions over rural interests. Taxpayers are tired of paying subsidies to farmers while surplus food sits in subsidized storage facilities. Suburbanites are fed up with the odors, dust, and toxins from the old farm down the road. No one is ...