ABSTRACT
Conventional wisdom has it that the global total human population has been growing exponentially - upward and onward from the cave. In a study, the authors examined regional-scale populations over millennia and found that regional-scale populations fluctuate a great deal in contrast to the global-scale total population. By reducing labor availability, epidemic mortality and morbidity can lead to food shortfalls and subsequent famine resulting in more morbidity and mortality. Health issues related to the use of modern inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides may be more important for farmers who practice market agriculture because they are more likely to use these inputs on that part of their production. The availability of transport, bulk processing, and markets all affect farm profitability - and farm profitability has a direct effect on the health of the farm family.
