Structural Changes in U.S. Dairy Farming and the Role of Government Policy

摘要

Agricultural policy faces conflicting social goals. On one hand, efficient large-scale agricultureprovides an adequate, low cost food supply, but many Americans continue to idealize the smallerfamily farm, believing that it promotes a democratic society with strong values. The changingstructure of agriculture from many small farms to fewer but larger farms is a concern oftenexpressed. Many causes have been suggested to explain the decay in farm numbers andcontinual growth in average farm size. These include technological changes, lower productioncosts on larger operations, barriers to expansion due to large required investments in land,buildings, and equipment, opportunities for earning income by working off the farm, andgovernment policies that affect farm profitability. This research examines these factors and theirinteractions in the dynamic context of the U.S. dairy industry, with an emphasis on governmentpolicy intervention.