The Silent Collapse of Rural America—And Why It Affects You
How do we sustain our food supply when people, the very foundation of agriculture, are disappearing?
I am hosting Dr. John Newton to unpack how demographic shifts are disrupting American agriculture. From aging rural populations to global population plateaus, we explore what happens when the “grow more, export more” model no longer works.
Dr. Newton shares how farms are being forced to evolve fast. From automation, AI, or transitioning to specialized high-quality products, farmers are racing against time to adapt to a radically different future. We also discuss why labor shortages, land repurposing, and shifting export markets are making it harder for small family farms to survive.
If you are wondering where your food will come from in the next 20 years, this episode will open your eyes. Stick around until the end for powerful takeaways on what needs to change now and what it means for the future of rural communities.
You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you’re on the go.
👉 Bring these insights to your team by booking Bradley Schurman for a keynote or consultation. Visit Human Change to learn more, schedule a conversation via Calendly, or email him directly.
In This Episode:
00:00 Meet the agricultural policy expert, Dr. John Newton
02:07 The impact of demographic changes on agriculture
07:22 How farmers are adapting to a shrinking population
10:00 The impact of population shifts and competition in global markets
12:44 Why farmers need to meet consumer preferences
15:10 Technological innovations to make up for labor shortages in agriculture
19:44 Policy solutions and the Farm Bill
22:50 Farmers’ response to demographic changes
25:21 Top 3 takeaways from the reality of shrinking population
28:57 Final thoughts on thriving in a shrinking world population
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
The Big Shrink – Research by Dr. John Newton’s team
About Dr. John Newton:
Dr. John Newton is the Executive Head of Terrain, where he leads a team dedicated to providing agricultural market insights and analysis to support farmers and ranchers. With over two decades of experience in agricultural economics, Dr. John has held prominent roles, including Chief Economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, and the American Farm Bureau Federation. He earned his Ph.D. in agricultural economics, along with master's degrees in applied economics and macroeconomics, from The Ohio State University.
Get in Touch with Dr. John Newton
👉 Learn more about tomorrow’s demographics and our rapidly aging population by purchasing your copy of Bradley’s book, The Super Age: Decoding Our Demographic Destiny (HarperBusiness).