Conclusions of FARM

Wow. How is it even possible to contextualize the information overload I have received over the past three weeks? Honestly, I don’t know. I can say, however, that I think I have learned more in the past three weeks than I have in my whole two years at Furman. The amount of knowledge I’ve gained in the field of agriculture really is fascinating. I attribute that information influx to the “hands-on” nature of Farm. I will say that living on a farm is tough work as well. I don’t admit to many things, but I will admit to how naïve I was prior to my journey to Iowa. I was convinced that there were issues and controversies surrounding agriculture, but I was not yet convinced that it took smart people and intelligent conversations to solve these problems. My naïve self was fully invested in the ideal image of what a farmer in the Midwest is. Pictured with a pitchfork in hand, and riding a tractor, the practical farmer to me never needed to be very intelligent. Let me tell you, boy was I wrong. People I encountered had not only one degree, but many had a few degrees in agriculture. These people’s lives depend on their production. It’s what drives them to want to wake up every morning. Leaving Iowa, I’ve come away with a sense that no one is evil in this agricultural game. There are two sides to every equation, and I think neither side is completely right or completely wrong. Where do I stand after three weeks? The answer is complicated. I don’t really know. Why? Although I lived on a large-scale production agriculture farm, I still am not convinced that every farmer should adopt this type of agriculture. Why do I think more and more people are? It is quite simple. It is where the money is. With corn at record high prices, why would a farmer not want to produce as much as he possibly could to make a profit? It is simple economics: lower the input costs and increase the profit margins. From extended presentations with large-scale agriculture representatives to personal visits to small-scale agriculture farms, I saw just about every type of agriculture possible in Iowa. It was a whole different world. The people spoke slowly, the weather changed quickly, and the ways of life varied greatly. However, I had a wonderful time. It will forever be an experience I will not forget.