Farming and the Future Farming and the Environment Feeding the World From Farm to Table

Gr 4—7—These books were apparently authored by people who have little or no connection to the world of agriculture. It is debatable that world hunger is caused by farmers' production costs. Feeding the World strongly suggests that the use of petroleum-based fuels is the major cause of high food prices. The reality of the situation is that farm fuel has very little, if any, bearing on food prices. Farmers' overhead is not a factor in the price the initial buyers of the products pay. (Farmers' markets are the exception.) Farmers are fortunate if the prices they receive cover their production costs. Statements such as "Animals are reared to be killed" in Farm to Table play on the emotions of readers when it could have easily been stated that animals are raised for food. This title finds it unacceptable that seven pounds of grain are needed to produce one pound of beef when, theoretically, it could be used for human consumption. No indication is given that the grain fed to cattle is rarely the same grain consumed by humans. Two pages later, the authors have no problem with the fact that 1100 pounds of milk are required to manufacture 84 pounds of cheese. The books have other errors, and some statements are so poorly worded that they do not make any sense. These books have little redeeming value.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS