LAYTON -- A "paradigm shift" is happening in agriculture, several hundred attendees of Utah Farm Bureau Federation's recent conference, here, were reminded. "Making American Agriculture Productive and Profitable" gave concrete examples of changes in progress, as well as ways for farmers to remain economically in the game. "The U.S. is facing rapidly growing competition on research being relayed within days from Brazil to China (for example), faster than it's coming from our agriculture extension stations," said Megan Provost, trade economist with the American Farm Bureau, told the group at the Davis Conference Center, Thursday. That factor comes as one-fourth of farm receipts, nationally, come from exports, she said.

A need to boost exports comes as the number of upper middle class consumers grows at home, demanding strawberries from New Zealand in the fall, say, or other fruits and vegetables, when at their freshest throughout the year. They're willing to pay more and get them from wherever in the world, Provost said.

"Global trade will be a key vehicle for future profitability in agriculture but the United States is not guaranteed a driver's seat," she continued.

"There is a lot of competition and a shrinking amount of exports," generally, she told farmers from throughout the state.

Many other issues face farmers, from the bigger farms that are often more healthy, to 444 farming-dependent counties across the country losing population in the 80s and 90s.

"Farming adjacent to urban areas have seen growth, but that brings urban sprawl and opens new challenges," Provost said, as if speaking directly to Davis County farmers.

Speaking to the theme of the conference, "Safeguarding Utah's Family Farms," she said "as the population gets older, and more money is spent on Social Security, federal government spending on agriculture is expected to flatten."

The number of farms has dropped by nearly half in 15 years, nationally, Provost said. A similar drop has occurred in Davis County, largely driven by the "urban sprawl" that is rapidly depleting farm land in favor of homes and associated development.

Many recommendations were presented that came from a two-year study by the American Federation of Farm Bureaus. Among them: support the voluntary sale of development rights, something such farmers as Charles Black in Syracuse have accomplished; encourage state colleges and universities to require more marketing and business classes in agricultural science curriculum; support extension of affordable healthcare and other social services (to farmers).

On the international front, Provost noted these suggestions: support uniform scientifically based health and safety standards that are applied to both foreign and domestic agricultural commodities; work to remove market access impediments controlled by the U.S. government, among others.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com