Agriculture in the Rural Economy

Abstract

At various stages throughout this text attention has been drawn to the effect which farming has on the social and natural environment and to its relations with the non-farming sectors of the economy. Similarly, social and economic changes which originate primarily outside agriculture can have major implications for farming. A recent illustration of the influence of external pressures shaping farming change is the British legislation, arising out of public concern with conservation, which aims to protect aspects of the natural environment (see Appendix to Chapter 14). Of course, some of the factors which awoke the conservation interest were brought about by changing patterns of farming, so their creation was not entirely exogenous. On the other hand, the conservation lobby would probably not have become so effective had not improved opportunities for leisure and recreation enabled more people to have time in which to become aware of the issues and to use in promoting their concern; and this increased spare time has come from changes primarily in the non-farming sector of the economy. Even industrial redundancy, early retirement and unemployment may have played some part in reinforcing the environmental movement.