As the chief executive of an insurance company specializing in farm-related insurance, it has been essential to be sensitive to trends impacting agriculture and continually make adjustments for the company to remains profitable. It is equally important that the farmers and agri-businesses be aware of relevant trends in order to maintain or improve their profitability. Numerous factors have influenced the expectations and needs that people in the northeastern states have of agriculture. Some of these factors have been responsible for the decline in the dairy and beef industry and the growth of the poultry industry in this area. These and other changes have been set in motion because of changes taking place in the kinds of foods we consume, where we live and the value of land. The influx of immigrants from Latin America and Asia has been so rapid and great that it has created demands for entirely different kinds of foods in certain areas. The demand for land for non-farm uses, such as housing and commercial installations, has greatly increased land values. Federal, state and municipal regulations, demanded by non-farm interests, have imposed serious limitations on practices essential to crop and animal production. These social, economic and environmental problems affecting farms and agri-businesses cannot be dismissed. Agricultural entities must work closely with commodity and farm organizations to quickly detect trends affecting their businesses and then obtain assistance from federal and state agencies or individually devise practical alternatives. Farmers and agri-businesses that ignore these realities will inevitably become unprofitable.

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In an effort to provide wide-ranging views and perspectives regarding the practice of and issues surrounding agriculture, the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture (PSPA) seeks speakers representing a variety of perspectives. The statements and opinions they present are strictly their own and do not necessarily represent the views of PSPA.