Author: Oil prices will prompt resurgence of family farm

[jpak]

http://www.bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=148182&zoneid=500

UNITY — A noted author and organic farmer told the second annual Local and Sustainable Food Conference that rising oil prices will result in the resurgence of the family farm.

Shepherd Ogden, author of "The Cook’s Garden: Step By Step Organic Vegetables," predicted it was inevitable that the growing cost of energy will undercut the ability of large corporations to continue to operate industrial farms.

Once that happens, he said, the family farm that has been a fixture in Maine for generations would flourish once again, provided developers have not gobbled up all of the farmland in the meantime. Until then, Maine must remain vigilant to the importation of genetically modified seeds and organisms, he said.

"When fuel gets more expensive, we’ll have regional agriculture again," Ogden told the approximately 100 people who attended Saturday’s conference at the Unity Center for the Performing Arts. The all-day event featured information tables by groups working on food issues in Maine, samples of locally raised and produced foods, and forums and workshops geared toward creating local solutions to growing food.

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[DCKit]

1. Unless the fuel costs of the factory farms are subsidized by the American people

[NMDemDist2]

2. first we need to neuter Monsanto n/t

[LongTomH]

3. I hope he's right; however, in the near term...................

Government subsidies for biofuels is likely to exacerbate the trend toward big agro.

[durtee librul]

4. I don't know much about Maine,

but I do know that in WI, most 'family' farms are non-existent and are owned by corporations. Sad day for farmers.

Here in MI, all I see is development. This is THE worst state I have EVER lived in and hope my stay will be relatively short. (go ahead MIganders, have at it. Any state that dictates you have to turn right to turn left is seriously messed up and that's just a minor item)

They will knock down a single family home on a nice large lot and subdivide it into 8 or 10 lots for big footprint homes in excess of 3000 sw ft.....not smart...everyone here whines, but they do NOTHING about it at the ballot box.

[jaksavage]

5. Buy local

Even Kansas is seeing a surge in local produce availabilty, Oregon and Hawaii also.
Support your local farmer
Let them grow marijuana.

[NickB79]

6. Well, if Peak Oil causes a new Great Depression

I'm moving back to my family's farm. If I still have Internet service, I'll have to change my name to FarmerNickB79 :-)