this picture of 'industrial agriculture' that the author has painted is a long, long way removed from the agriculture that i know here in australia.
the problems with agriculture raised in the article are largely a function of market distorting subsidies, us farming is not the most efficient in the world. if there is no (or a muted) incentive to produce more from less it stands to reason there will be waste and inefficiency, i.e. over-fertilising, too many chemicals, runoff, environmental issues etc.
and, conventional farming is responsible for fat americans??? honest to god, who writes this stuff.
i just hope that urban australians don't read this drivel and rush out and join peta and by a loaf of biodynamic spelt bread.
australian 'industrial' farmers recieve very few subsidies and are among the worlds most efficient and sustainable, we need to be or we go broke. this article is an argument against government intervention in agriculture.
