The Truth About God, By Oliver Wendell Holmes

Former president George Washington once said, “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man,” (George Washington Quote). Since Washington’s presidency, countless advancements and developments within the agricultural industry have allowed the United States to grow, develop, and become one of the most prosperous countries in the entire world. Nevertheless, this prosperity is also marked by several key historical events, such as the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions, which have caused the core values and traditions that this great nation was built on to slowly disappear. Today, the majority of Americans have no knowledge, understanding, or appreciation for the agricultural industry, causing them to take for granted the basic necessities they rely on each day. This disconnection has created a gap between producers and consumers, which is known as

"I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words, but of deeds." These famous words from "The FFA Creed" by E.M. Tiffany outline the basic beliefs of FFA members and agriculturists around the world. But these values, although crucial to the sustaining of our world's ever-increasing population, are growing more and more detached from the people not involved in agriculture. Although food and fiber production has increased in recent years, providing more bushels per acre and more meat per head of cattle, the agriculture industry has come under fire due to an overwhelming majority of people being totally disconnected from the agriculture industry. Today, we'll examine the primary causes of this disconnect, the negative effects on agriculture and our society as a whole that results from it, and how you can help solve this ever-growing problem.

After learning about the statistics of how much agriculture consumes our planet, I was appalled to see how destructive it is. Jonathan Foley put into perspective the increase and rapid demand for food. Agriculture alone consumes 40% of our land surface, 70% of our irrigation system, and

The rising costs of land and the simultaneous costs of water make it so 30% of farm households have negative income. The cost of sustainability, such a new tilling methods and access to water, also strains farms. This often leads to farmers self-exploiting themselves to try to generate the most crops possible and cultivate their land to the fullest extent.

The only downfall from this timely conception is the damage to the soil if the crops are not rotated every few years. Berry speaks about the fact that some individuals focus on the production of crops instead of the health of their land; this irresponsibility causes problems for the environment. Berry states, “Once one’s farm and one’s thoughts have been sufficiently mechanized, industrial agriculture’s focus on production, as opposed to maintenance, becomes merely logical…The farm and all concerns not immediately associated with production have in effect disappeared from sight” (Berry, p. 2, p. 3). Some of America’s Society do not care about the consequences of constantly harvesting. Instead, people concern themselves with meeting the supply and demands. Berry expresses his views about soil science and its uses of replacing the lost nutrients from the overuse of the land.

Astyk and Newton, in their essay: The Rich Get Richer, the Poor Go Hungry, explains that “around the world, industrial agriculture has consolidated land ownership into the hands of smaller and smaller populations” destroying local self-sufficiency (518). Individuals are no longer able to grow own fresh, healthy foods to feed their family. They now depend on industrially grown crops and processed foods loaded with chemicals for food. Additionally, because of the farm policy, farmers that continue to cultivate healthy produce like fruits and vegetables get little or no government support, thus the higher prices of fresh produce seen today at our grocery stores.

Our food system, agricultural system, and healthcare system involve many stakeholders which make any amount of positive change very difficult to accomplish, but this does not stop Michael Pollan from pursuing and envisioning a more sustainable way of living for all people. When he first began his work of health promotion it was during a time of food confusion and a national health crisis. He seized that moment and 25 years later his passion and purpose for his work is still evident. He continues to try and help others understand the connection between our health, the health of our nation, and the health of the environment. He supports the development of new farm policies that support local farmers rather than large industries such as the sugar industry. He also encourages people to think about how their daily lives of consumerism perpetuate our reliance on fossil fuels and the consequences that has on our environment (Oke, 2016). Although change occurs slowly and can sometimes feel nonexistent, I believe the work of Michael Pollan and others like him is making a

Without policies to guarantee proper care, use reasonable access to soil, we would have further limitations to access of crops and in turn, less access to sustainable food sources. Without the governing oversight of laws and policies, we would likely be living in a country looking at “increased poverty, hunger, conflict, land grabs, and mass migration of displaces populations” (Montanerella, 2015). There are many concerns that may arise when developing and enforcing agricultural policies, but if policies are not made to improve standards, technology, maintain diversity and preserve water, we would be apt to face devastating effects. Some of the major concerns involved with agricultural policy include: biosecurity, labor supply, technology, water access, water trades, and

In his paper, Pollan discusses the reliance on fossil fuels for agriculture, public health issues, and food security problems. He proposes policy that promotes alternative, local farming. Lyson describes a shift from craft to mass production, the consolidation of farms, and the disembedding of agriculture from the community. He discusses how civic economies challenge the market based agriculture system. Kloppenburg discusses how our current foodshed is built on a market economy and distances people from their food sources. Berry describes the problems of land consolidation, the industrialization of agriculture, and a culture of distancing people from farms. He proposes instituting more community based food systems. Although these authors discuss important economic, social, and environmental problems

As the Earth’s population grows at breakneck pace over the next several decades, who will feed the world’s people? Agriculture has undergone an extensive expansion and transformation throughout the last few centuries, beginning with the Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s. New technology allowed for better and greater methods of production. With the development of modern technology, people try to think some way can plant less, get more. Many farmers plant only one crop in the same place year after year. However, those against monocropping claim that it is very hard on the environment and actually less profitable than organic means of farming (“Monoculture Crops – Learn About The Effects Of Monocropping”). In addition, the destructive nature of agriculture has recently shown its hand. While our supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants are filled with abundant food options, people forget to ask themselves where all this food comes from. Globalization has opened up economies of scale and has allowed people to tap into different types of products, whether that is food or clothing. But the availability of an increased mass market comes at a cost. However, today, the modern farming techniques have grown into a headache for farmers and governments alike, because they are the consequences of overproduction, industrial waste and other problems arising from the modern methods of agriculture. Thus, modern techniques are harmful to environments, animals, and humans.

Industrialized farming is a constant in today's world. Every hour of every day, these farms are cranking out thousands of pounds of meat, eggs, dairy, etc. Many claim it is quick and efficient. While factory farming does get the job done, per se, the job is not done without causing devastation. Environmentally, these farms have caused severe amounts of damage. They are responsible for thirty seven percent of the world's methane emissions, having a huge impact on climate change. Methane emissions are at least twenty times more hazardous to the climate than carbon dioxide emissions (Good). Farmers that manage and own industrial farms, and their customers, face dangers as well. Many farmers develop a resistance to antibiotics after being

Many remember “Young Goodman Brown” as the classic tale of a young idealistic Puritan and his brush with the devil. This classic allegory by Nathanial Hawthorne, led him to be “considered the founder of the modern short story.” (Kellan) This story explores the relationship between faith, destiny and the evilness of mankind. It also exposes the hypocrisy of those who are considered the most righteous, and what can happen when a person’s ideals are shattered.

Christians specifically have an obligation to look after the environment. God gave humans one of his most precious and creative accomplishments so that mankind can continue what he has done and sustain it. Humans, however, are sinful people.

Christians should all have the same goal; promoting and protecting the preservation as well as restoration of the environment should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. The environment is precious and by ensuring we keep it as balanced and well taken care of as possible we are ensuring a healthier and more rewarding life for everyone. As Christians, we are put on this earth to protect and nurture the land, essentially, we are the lands stewards. God took His time when making the earth and he made it to perfection. It always has been our job since the beginning of time to tend to it and make sure we are using it correctly and carefully. Our accountability for this is to our fellow Christians as well as to Him.

Genesis 1:26 states “Then God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (ESV, 2016). If a person is to state that they are indeed a Christian, then they are agreeing that the Bible is the inherent word of God and that it will dictate the choices they make and the things they do. Considering what impact the word of God should have on a Christian it would be antithetical to Christianity for someone to state that it is not necessary for a devout Christian to care for and sustain the environment. Christians should be the leaders in environmental sustainability if they are to fully follow God’s desires.