What are the major Agriculture Issues facing America in 2011?

Subsidies are, in my opinion, the most interesting and debatable issue. Subsidies also includes biofuels. Other stuff like GMOs, sustainability, and land-use are interesting, but there's a lot less controversy within the scientific community on these issues. More stuff: Food safety, industrial cropping, CAFOs. FYI You don't need many, you could spend your entire life discussing any one of these topics.

Eric has it right on the nose. EDUCATION of the city people about just what it takes to grow a days supply of food for the family. Educating the idiots that think you can make a rule that roosters can not crow except for certain hours of the day. People have no idea what it takes for a dairy farmer to produce that gallon of milk, however they will moan and groan to any politician that will listen, about having to pay to much for it. Predators like wild dogs, cats, hawks, wolves, coyotes, can wipe out a years profit over night, but the citidiot tells the politician that they are to cute or pretty to eliminate.

I'm largely with Charlie on this one, and will go with both regulations and the disconnect many people have with agriculture anymore. I believe most of the regulations that make little or no sense come from this disconnect, as if people think something happens this way then it must be that way. This can be anywhere from people moving out from the city then raising a big fuss about how they have to deal with dust, smells, slow or loud machinery certain times of the year. To regulations that can range anywhere from an annoyance to having a major impact on our operations. I can understand ones that can improve quality, safety, or the environment as long as they're scientifically based, and a legitimate concern. But when I spend a few hours a week doing pointless things to keep the government happy it cuts into productivity. Also a lot of this disconnect has to do with people having no idea just what we do, or the expenditures of time, and money that goes into running a successful farm. Most sales go right back into inputs and other expenditures, often we are "on call" at all times, and there are times of the year where our only break in the day is to sleep. I'm sure you can think of many other things that most people have no clue on for what goes on, and the answer to this is education, if not informed and able to see this it will only get worse.

Trade imbalance with China is a God awful biggie. Also, how about the continual loss of farms and farmers due to aging, (retirement) with little to no help for new and beginning farmers. Nobody seems to care (including Government) if corporations take over farming traditional family farms. But you/we better care! Good Luck Ducky~

Biofuels, GMO, Land Use, Water Use, Land Ownership, China, Brazil,