ABSTRACT
Discussion, debate, and political interaction on agriculture-related issues have often been highly polarized. Failed communication, increasing polarization, and the formation of hostile camps—all are marks of controversy about US agriculture. The structure of food production in the US has changed. There are fewer farmers and their concerns and interests are more specialized. New groups have become publicly concerned with agriculture and food issues. The Iowa and Texas conferences, problems of polarization in agricultural policy making have been evident in a great variety of settings, and many efforts have been made, both from within the agricultural establishment and from without, to generate better policymaking processes. The descriptions of ideologies of agriculture have been undertaken with two aims. The first is to facilitate communication. The second aim is to create a climate for limited compromise, mutual accommodation, and increased tolerance in controversy. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
