Re: SPSs and the candidates (was: Re: History's Worst Presidential Candidate)

From: *** Morris (ramorris_at_isomedia.com)
Date: 10/25/04 

Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 13:32:54 -0700

"Hop David" <hopspageHATESSPAaMmM@tabletoptelephone.com> wrote in message
news:417D3A4A.2010700@tabletoptelephone.com...
>
>
> James Nicoll wrote:
> > In article <417BFA45.5060501@tabletoptelephone.com>,
> > Hop David <hopspageHATESSPAaMmM@tabletoptelephone.com> wrote:
> >
> >>James Nicoll wrote:
> >>
> >>>In article <417AF847.2060900@ix.netcomSPAMBLOK.com>,
> >>>Scott Lowther <scottlowther@ix.netcomSPAMBLOK.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>How long will it be before SPS's are sufficiently bundant that there
is
> >>>>SPS power to spare?
> >>>>
> >>>
[deleted]
> >
> > We're increasing the productivity of farming faster than demand
> > for food is rising,
>
> True, but I'd guess there is a ceiling on just how productive we could
> make a given acreage.
>
Indeed, food energy is nothing more than stored solar energy, and the amount
of solar energy that strikes a given acre of land is limited. There is also
an optimum amount of water and fertilizer that can be applied without doing
more harm than good. Fertilizers are made with energy from fossil fuels,
and there are many experts who believe that the world is at or near the peak
in petroleum production.

> > so the relative price of most agricultural goods tends
> > downward. Or to put it another way, the world has too many farmers for
the
> > market to support.
>
> How long will this trend last?
>
It may already have reversed. Last I looked, world grain production, per
capita, had been decreasing for some years. Ocean fish catches have been
declining in *absolute* terms for decades.

> I live in Arizona. What were recently acres and acres of farmland
> surrounding the Phoenix area that have become condos and shopping
> centers. As residential acreage increases and agricultural acreage
> decreases, ag prices may climb.
>