Many people say farmers are a dying breed. In a recent study, however, one professor is trying to determine how greatly agribusiness is affecting farming in key areas, such as southeastern Pennsylvania. Counties like Berks, Lancaster, Chester, Dauphin, Northampton, Lebanon, York and Cumberland are subject to population and development pressures. Eight out of the top 10 agricultural areas, value-wise, are in these counties.
Agribusiness is comprised of three areas.
One is the farmer and the land, another is the distributor, which is responsible for taking products like wheat and converting it to flour, said Clyde Myers, a county extension agent for Berks County and a Penn State employee. The third is supporting businesses, which can include veterinarians, feed mills, equipment manufacturers, aerial spraying and many other companies that support farmers. A lot of money is being put into preserving the land. At one time these businesses were only 10 or 15 minutes away, but now farmers need to drive an hour or more, or even wait a few days to receive necessary supplies or equipment. He is working in conjunction with Penn State Cooperative Extension and the study should be completed by the end of the year.