As an American, I've taken for granted that I can get just about any food I want at the supermarket. In fact, the number of choices are dizzying. I never really thought about the tenuous chain between myself and my food. Less than 1% of the U.S. population is employed in agriculture, and 40% of these farmers are 55 or older. 1 The chain of transportation that brings goods to the stores is tenuous and depends on a few key railways and truck drivers. Supermarkets could experience spot shortages if the proposed trucker strike gains momentum or more drivers quit the business.


Rich countries like the U.S. used to store extra food in case of emergencies. Many grain elevators were built in the Great Plains after World War II for this purpose. 2 This stockpile reduced the volatility of food prices. When prices rose, the government released some grain into the market. When costs were low, the Department of Agriculture would support prices by purchasing surpluses. Excesses of wheat, milk, and butter were exported, given away or even destroyed for lack of demand. After the passage of the 1985 farm bill, the USDA divested itself of grain stocks and other foodstuffs.

What happens in the U.S. agricultural markets has a great impact on the rest of the world. America is the “Saudi Arabia” of grain as it is the largest exporter. The U.S. supplies 70% of the world's corn, and it has little 2007 crop surplus of soybeans and wheat left to sell. 3 Many poor countries depend on imports of these staples to feed millions of their hungry citizens.