TRACTOR SEAT VIEW

Farm drivers forSustainable agriculture

Varel G. Bailey

Technical View

Farmer attitude

• LISA• Confusion Subsistence vs. Sustainable• Spectrum Do-gooders >>>>>Pro ag

Internal Drivers

• Management (labor)• Location (land)• Finance

(capital)

External Drivers

• Economics• Government• Technology• Society• Weather

Matrix

• Mgt Loci $$• ____________________________________• Economics• Government• Technology• Society• Weather

Sustainability

• Mgt Loci $$• Economics Job 1 L’Lord Risk• Government Game pgm One size NIFA?• Zero risk 1Size-all Leverage• Hassle tax Corp l’ld Patents• Technology Change Biologic Change $• Society King mk’r Polarize Food $• Weather Crisis mode Adaptable Impact

Incrementalism

• Goals change faster than technology• Goals change faster than adoption

Farm bill

• Current farm legislation drives production to marginal (risky) production areas

Biological Patents

• Biological patents drive agricultural management and structure toward vertical integration, oligopoly, and “corporate mentality”

Technology

• “Disruptive innovation” is likely the only “top-down” change likely to have a significant impact on sustainability

Societal Expectation

• Create the German “Isle of Happiness”

Sustainable Agriculture

• The shock absorber for the swinging pendulum