American farmers feed growing demand with less farmland

CADIZ, Ky. – The U.S. soybean industry is working to meet growing global demand despite operating with less farmland and fewer farms. According to the Department of Agriculture, the U.S. had about 943 million acres of farmland in 2000. That figure has since fallen about 7% to 874 million acres. The USDA also reported that the country lost approximately 307,000 farms over the same period. Meanwhile, global demand for American agricultural products, particularly soybeans, has surged. Farmers are seeking new markets for their crops while working to produce more from each acre. Barry Alexander is a seventh-generation farmer in Cadiz,…