Raising Less Corn, More Hell: Why Our Economy, Ecology and Security Demand The Preservation of the Independent Farm

by George Pyle

In Raising Less Corn, More Hell George B. Pyle shows us how the famous breadbasket of America is being bought up by large corporations, who produce less food per acre than the small farmer, push those farmers further into debt, pollute the earth and wear out the soil, and even license the very stuff of life: grain and seed. Meanwhile those farmers are promised a better future if they play ball with the corporations, but caught between the brutal new market and antiquated government support systems, they are forced to grow too much of the wrong crops — crops that will be fed to animals who cannot tolerate them, shipped as dubious "aid" to struggling countries, drive the farmer's take-home pay ever downward, and make us all fatter.

Pyle, native Kansan and editorialist for theSalt Lake Tribune, delivers a powerful, learned and lively attack on the status quo and shows us how unless we take a close look at our larder — right now — we risk turning much of rural America into a permanent environmental and economic wasteland. We are feeding ourselves and the rest of the world too much trash, he says, at environmental, ecological, and even security costs that are too high to pay.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a great title, a really intriguing concept, and the introduction is pretty strong but it really falls short in the execution. I think maybe the author could have used a few more sources and edited out some of his unqualified, unsourced conjectures. Also, he was really fond of using extended metaphors for describing simple concepts that needed only a few words, even for the most basic English reader.

I wouldn't bother with this book. Read the back cover and the introduction and you won't feel like you just wasted your time as the author uses three paragraphs to compare sharing information with sharing the flame of a candle.

[Hillary Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a good exposition of the wya that our gov't subsidizes farmers and fucks with the world economy. And from a midwestern boy no less. I think it is of interst to anyone who wants a lower-level look at how agriculture is screwed, without focusing on the brutal slaughter of beakless chickens and hideous meatrocity side of things. the vegetable growing industry is just as effed.

[Cissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent in-depth look into the causes and results of monopolistic industrial agriculture, and how it's affecting the world. In brief: he's not a fan, and supports this with more data than I've read elsewhere. If you grew concerned about industrial foods when reading "Omnivore's Dilemma," this will give you more info on that.


Unfortunately, Pyle does not offer much in the way of solutions.

[Ken McDouall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incisive and often startling indictment of industrial farming practices. Even if you are well versed in farm policy and the hazards of agribusiness, Pyle will probably surprise you with his inventory of the many dysfunctional aspects of our way of feeding ourselves--and helping to starve much of the developing world in the process.

[Juli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book that explores the history, economics and criticisms of our nation's current agricultural system. It makes a brilliantly researched argument against industrial agriculture, allowing room for the small independent farm to thrive and feed our nation.

[Anastasia]

I'll pick it back up again sometime.

[Kim Houkal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discussion on how our "produce more" mentality has harmed the small farming industry and endangered our food supply.

[Sarah]

as seen on brian d's shelf in NE

[Avishay Artsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good though biased introduction to the ag crisis, and the dangers of corporate agribusiness.

[Kriss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll get back to you when I finish making a thousand notes on my way thru it.