The coming social storm and what it means to agriculture

In our new Post-post modern era, facts are dispensable. It’s the myth that counts. My point is this: With a new Administration assuming the highest office in just a few days, we are going to witness something like a 180 degree turn from the policies of the last eight years.   Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing will be debated for the life of our country.  Some of the debates will be sensible and well-mannered. Too many of them will descend into unreasoned rage and madness. And where does all this lead, you might ask?  What American agriculture grows and how we do it will be examined as never before - every plowed row, every new born calf, every chick and piglet will be a subject of debate. Farmers and ranchers who choose to passionately defend the status quo and not consider the ever-changing, always fractionalized opinions of the buying public will find a thorny, weedy, tough row to hoe.  Uncomfortable discussions will be made, pitting rural against urban, big ag against little ag, slow food vs fast food.  It will be occasionally unpleasant and often hostile as both sides firmly believe right is with them and the other side is populated by know-nothing fools.