OK, Farming and "efficiency". Of course, efficiency is one of those
slippery words. Efficiency is meaningful only when you consider ONE
variable. But if you maximize the efficiency of that one variable, you
are probably ruining efficiency on other variables.
So. Small farms are efficient in many senses. They are much more
efficient in land use because they are managed intensively. They
ususually require fewer capital goods. The typically produce much
higher quality products. In fact, I would venture to say that any
small farm that is not producing high-end goods is going broke. You
can make money producing specialty goods on a small farm, but not
commodity goods. And it seems to me that the market for specialty
goods is going to increase dramatically. However, a recession can
affect the prices of specialty goods dramatically. Just a few fewer
people bidding up the price of a limited supply of (say) caviar can
cause a huge fluctuation in the price.
But large farms are also efficient in some senses too. They use labor
efficiently, only a few people. They can transport goods more
efficiently since the produce much larger quantities. They have more
leverage to demand higher prices from bulk buyers. They can weather
market fluctuations that would bankrupt small farms. The other thing
to remember is that most large American farms could easily double or
triple production, if only there was a market for the extra goods.
Therefore it is very difficult for small farmers to take advantage of
shortages in supply.
So, in order to say whether small or large farms are more efficient,
you first have to define what you are measuring. Tons of food produced
per acre? Net profit per acre? Gross sales per unit of labor?
Calories harvested per calories expended?
=====
Darryl
Think Galactically -- Act Terrestrially
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