Only 15 percnt of the world food supply is traded internationally. Local and regional food systems exist and work when we do not enact policies that promote overproduction of traded commodities that then undermine and dislace local networks. We can export ourselves into prosperity. Depending on export markets puts our economy in real, though needless, jeopardy, as the recent Asian financial collapse clearl proved. Moreover, when the recent China deal was announced, world grain prices plummeted.
Farmers are too independent to organize.
This myth has kept farmets from realizing the financial rewards of supply management and volume incentives in the marketplace. Collectively, farmers could have power in any marketplace they chose. This old chestnut is the ag-pundit's favorite explanation for low commodity prices. Between government production statistics and the previously mentioned slogans, low prices become inevitable. Missing from the discussion, however, are facts from the demand side of the equation.