4.4.12.C--+Social,+political,+and+economic+factors+that+affect+agricultural+systems

**Social, Political and Economic Factors that affect agricultural systems**
 * Social** - The Germans were the largest group in southeast Pennsylvania and were the ones who eventually brought farming to Lancaster County. In the begining there was livestock which provided the goods for the household and was not for selling. In some cases hemp and other matierals were sold but most was used to make clothing for the families. The great farming was recognized when they helped feed General Washington's troops at Valley Forge. He was greatly appreciative of all the hard work and how well the farming was working out for everyone. As America progressed and towns and cities began to develop the more and more farming started to become a way of making money and providing for others and not just families themselves. That was major change and what began farming to be such a rich industry for many. Here in Lancaster County Agriculture is of extreme importance.




 * Political** - The American Farmland trust found that lots of land has recently been lost due to urbanization. If America keeps converting farmland for other uses at the rate that we are today farmland will be very scarce in the future, considering now it is already extremely low. Luckily our government looks out for farming in America becuase it is necessary for farming and agriculture to exist in our country. One way that we use to protect farming is the Right-to-farm law which protects farmers from unnecessary law suits and also any anti-farming organizations. There are many commissions that are set-up all over the nation to help make sure farming stays about where the commissions are and keeps the needs of the farmers in the view of the people and the government.


 * Economic** - Housing and Urbanization are major reasons why the farmland in Pennsylvania is vanishing right b[[image:urba.jpg align="right" caption=""Farming in a Few Years""]] efore our eyes. In Lancaster the products that leave the farms bring in about $4 billion dollars per year. Also local farms bring in about $1,938 dollars in sales per acre of farm land. The national average of money per acre is about $214 which shows how more economically advanced Pennsylvania, especially Lancaster County is. Today in Lancaster County farming is of such importance. In 2003 the farm production reached a total of $890 million dollars. More farmers are offered deals if they sell their farm land away so that urbanization can take place and in some cases the money is more than the farmer could make if the farm did produce its best work. The necessity for farms increases as the demands in society increases and with farms disappearing it is seemingly impossible to meet the needs of the growing world. Without agriculture and farming the economy would also suffer. Agriculture affects the economy in many ways. In Lancaster County alone the agriculture business brings in about 11% of the total county's income and also provides over a quarter of jobs in the county.