12 Comments
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John Ela's avatar

Another crystal clear explanation of commodity ag. Thank you for the insights!

Eshan Samaranayake's avatar

Love it, another banger! 🙌🏾

Ariel Patton's avatar

Thanks so much Eshan!

Tanner Janesky's avatar

Great article! There are so many things wrong with our current agricultural system.

Nancy's avatar

Great article! I like to eat fresh soybeans-edamame. It would be nice to see fresh soybeans, grown in the US in the produce aisles, or at the farmers market rather than frozen ones from China.

Ariel Patton's avatar

Yum! Just need to build the supply chain to address that market!

John Norwood's avatar

Great analysis. You’re focus on grain supply first step. Now think about what happens to the soil, the water, the biota when this system is pushed too far. Half our topsoil is gone in IA, soil organic matter too, grazing livestock and their recycling story is missing from landscape, our rivers are fouled w tiling runoff. Need a better way to bring system back in balance so it can be sustained.

Ariel Patton's avatar

Thanks John! Chris Jones who writes The Swine Republic (https://riverraccoon.substack.com/) does an excellent job digging into these topics in Iowa with original analysis and wit -- would recommend checking out his writing if you haven't yet!

Jennifer Barney's avatar

Great piece. You are the Kyla Scanlon of ag!

Ariel Patton's avatar

This is such high praise!! Thanks Jennifer!

Rodrigo Wagner's avatar

Great material!!!! Thank you. And congratulations for the insights.

Ariel Patton's avatar

Thanks Rodrigo!