Trade agreements have opened more markets. These trading rules will represent an important challenge and opportunity for the future. Institutional structures are being modified to help transfer farms to the next generation. Community and public financing can provide new areas of growth. Another aspect will be to assist the creation of new farm business structures.
Technology continues to change.
As it does, important and unique legal questions will arise. Additionally, producers will be limited on what they can or cannot do with the harvest. Patents and precision farming will present important concerns as to the ownership of technological information. Regulation aimed at assisting soil stewardship will continue to advance. Public policy will decide who should steward the land and at what price.