Thread: Russia disappoints the world

Difference between the American agricultural market and others. Most nations subsidize farming to keep prices low, because they have inefficient producers. We subsidize our farmers to keep prices high (through destruction of crops or paying farmers not to grow food), because we have hyper-efficient producers. In a free trade environment without any subsidies or tarrifs from anyone our farmers would be providing most of the world's food, and many farmers in the third world would be starving because they couldn't compete.

I am not so sure about this? It seems according to some reports the major agricultural producers of grains and other essential food products are now the Eastern countries; China, India and Russia (especially for things like barley and wheat). Since the fall of Communism it seems that Russias agricultural sector has not disintergrated like many claim other sectors have; medical, transport etc. Just my opinion but I believe Russias economic sectors seem in very good standing but I agree Russia is leaning towards becoming a resource/petrostate.

But, if anything I think Russias economy is just like Australias. We (Australia) have a strong agricultural sector but our main economic driving force is the demmand for resources from rising economies just like Russias main economic driving force is through resources. Do you guys agree?

Heres some interesting links that give insight into what country produces what Agriculturally. The 1st link is especially good because you can search a certain commodity and its list countries in order of highest producers.

MAJOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND PRODUCERS - Country rank in the world, by commodity

Category:Agriculture by country - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And a graph to show the production of commodities in comparision to Chinas output:
Image:2005gdpAgricultural.PNG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia