Eating is something that people do everyday to stay healthy and nourished. The majority of people, however, do  not grow their own food. This could be for many of the reasons discussed yesterday: the work is tough and laborious, people may not see opportunity to grow and expand, there is the stigma of seeming “dirty” or “uneducated”. What was also surprising was that of the room of what seemed to be 30 people, only 5 people had any connection to agriculture (whether it be their major, they grew up on a farm, or even just worked on one). With such a small number of people in who have even a remote connection  with agriculture, who are the ones who are providing food on our tables? Well, it is improperly documented migrant workers whom we have to thank. One of the most memorable conversations from last night were the consequences of a potential wall being built along the American border. Because over half of the farmers on New York State are farmers who may face deportment, New York State agriculture would, without a doubt, face a heavy strain. Farmers would have to raise prices to sustain themselves, but there are laws that limit the prices of food. As a result, it would become even tougher to sustain a farm.

Although I always remind myself that people had to work hard for the food on my plate, I have never thought about agriculture as in depth as I did yesterday. Asides from the obvious obstacles such as inclement weather, and crop pests, other factors unrelated to the crops or weather can have strong effects on the agriculture industry, such as foreign policy.