• FabledAepitaph@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Basically all the land is already owned by corporations or farmers with generational wealth. Where will the farmers farm?

    • enbyecho@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Basically all the land is already owned by corporations or farmers with generational wealth

      This is really not true. Around 15% of total -current**- farmland by area is owned by corporations. I get that you probably want to say it’s often the case and that “much” land is owned by corporations, but that’s not 100% the case. There are also several initiatives to help match farmers with land either to buy or rent, and even government loan programs to help folks buy their land. I know from personal experience that it’s not easy, but I also know compared with actually making a living farming, finding the land is relatively easy.

      ** I specify current because there are many different classifications of what constitutes arable land. When it comes down to it any land is “arable” with enough effort.

    • ryathal
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      3 days ago

      There’s a lot of farmers that are looking to not be farmers anymore. There’s also lots of land for lease.

      • enbyecho@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        There’s a lot of farmers that are looking to not be farmers anymore.

        Because people demand all produce be in season all the time, be extremely fresh, cost next to nothing, be sustainably grown, be delivered to your door and be absolutely perfect looking.

        As a consequence, a farmer is lucky to make $25k per year on $250k in revenue.

        • ryathal
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          3 days ago

          Farming has pretty much always been a way to spend millions to make thousands. Whether it’s meme produce or staple grains.

          • enbyecho@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            It’s not quite that bad.

            On another note… I have no idea what “meme produce” is supposed to me.

            • ryathal
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              3 days ago

              Micro greens, whatever the new super food is, various labels you can apply to sell lettuce for 5x the normal price.