Agriculture 2000

Agriculture 2000: A Look at the Future takes a very broad and qualitative look at prospective U.S. agricultural developments over the next two decades. The book focuses on evolving technologies and trends that will affect how farmers and ranchers grow crops, raise livestock, market their output, purchase supplies, and finance their operations. A wide sampling of information is provided with limited depth devoted to any single topic.

Although agriculture is still a "way of life," it is also an increasingly sophisticated business. Tomorrow's farmers will be better businessmen as well as better production technicians. They will benefit from a rapidly growing array of electronic technologies which will provide more infor mation, on a more timely basis, with more analytical capabilities. How well farmers manage this information will be an important factor in business success.

Changes also are occurring not only at the farm level, but in rural communities, as more people move away from urban areas, creating a greater mix of urban and rural lifestyles.

Agriculture 2000 was written for farmers, ranchers, agribusiness leaders, businessmen, high school agriculture students, and other members of the general public who want to know more about the future of U.S. agriculture. The book is based on recent findings of a major 8-month research project conducted by Battelle's Columbus Division, the original research center of Battelle Memorial Institute, one of the world's largest sponsored-research organizations.