Production Costs and Relative Profitability of Organically Grown Vegetables

Extract

In recent decades modern technology has created phenomenal growth in U.S. agricultural output. Large scale farming systems and the application of scientific techniques have been largely responsible for the increased production of farm products. However, recently there has emerged a growing concern over the social costs of modern agricultural technology Displacement of labor with little off-farm employment opportunities, concentration of agriculture in fewer hands and extensive usage of manufactured chemicals are viewed by some with alarm. The ensuing debate has drawn attention to organic farming as an alternative to modern farming.