It's no secret that property rights are a core element of western civilization and capitalistic societies. These property rights define how goods and services can be used, traded, or saved. Both individual and larger entities can own property and they can choose to use (or not use) that property however they wish. This is of …
a history of domestic (American) agricultural policy
Although much of the original motivation to settle America was fueled by a divine imperative to 'go forth and conquer' in the name of God, domestic farm policy also played a large role in motivating both citizens and newly arrived immigrants to settle the lands of the vast unknown. This began in the 1800s when …
Continue reading "a history of domestic (American) agricultural policy"
a history of agricultural education in the United States
Agriculture has been the backbone of communities throughout the United States since the birth of the nation. While the field has been wrought with controversy, it can also be considered innovative in many respects. Agricultural education is one of these areas... Until the mid-1800s, universities in the United States were mostly private organizations that focused …
Continue reading "a history of agricultural education in the United States"
what are open-source seeds? why are open-source seeds important?
Perhaps you have heard the term open-source. Maybe you heard about it within the context of software and technology as the open-source movement originated within the software development community as a means to encourage innovation and knowledge sharing. As such, the open-source concept is best-known within the technological paradigm. However, the essence of open-source can …
Continue reading "what are open-source seeds? why are open-source seeds important?"
the advantages and disadvantages of agribusiness
Love it or hate it, agribusiness is the main player in the realm of food and fiber production. The days of the supposed idyllic rural farm life are largely gone (albeit their is a growing interest in new peasantry), having been replaced by super-sized farms run with the increasingly specialized technology. There is nothing inherently …
Continue reading "the advantages and disadvantages of agribusiness"
how does agribusiness work? what are the different parts of agribusiness?
Good or bad, agribusiness is an undeniable part of the agricultural landscape. We often associate the concept with (bad) industry practices and giant corporations. These associations aren't wrong, but there is so much more to agribusiness than widely- known cultural giants with poor social and environmental track records. So, what does agribusiness really mean? The …
Continue reading "how does agribusiness work? what are the different parts of agribusiness?"
what is agribusiness? how did agribusiness evolve?
Historically speaking, agriculture has been treated as a single, unified sector in which existing market mechanisms (most commonly government intervention) enabled the coordination of production and distribution. This approach failed to account for the activities engaged in by private entities, e.g. farmers or industries working with farmers. The common understanding of agriculture as a sector …
Continue reading "what is agribusiness? how did agribusiness evolve?"