Croplands

Farmers are unique in that they are the caretakers of millions of acres of fertile fields and woodlands. Land-use decisions made by farmers today will have far-reaching effects for generations to come. We depend upon the farmer for many of our basic needs and products. In providing us with food, fiber and timber products, farmers must cope with weather fluctuations, be flexible enough to deal with the supply and demand of perishable goods, and adjust to worldwide political policies which affect farm prices. Their living is based on chance, whether it be that of losing a wheat crop in a hailstorm just before harvest, juggling high feed costs against low livestock prices, or dealing with the competition of foreign commodity trade.