Farmers are now more interested in learning about collective bargaining than they’ve been in the past several decades, according to Richard Levins, an economist with the University of Minnesota (U of M) Extension Service.

And economist Richard Levins says he’s not surprised by the renewed interest and possibilities. “Now there are fewer farmers (to organize), but they’re better educated and more connected with information technology,” said Levins.

“And most important is that today’s farmers live in a world of economic giants. The market power of non-farm corporations is now so great that farmers will have to consider alternatives to small-scale competition. It’s simply good business.”

His optimism may be justified by requests for some of his publications. A paper he wrote on collective bargaining, titled, “An Essay on Farm Income” was downloaded 1,144 times from his department’s Web site, according to Louise Letnes, librarian for the U of M Department of Applied Economics.

The 40-page publication, “An Essay on Farm Income,” is available at http://agecon.lib.umn.edu.

“Collective action requires a new way of thinking, a great deal of organizing to gain economic power and economic analysis to learn how to use that power effectively,” said Levins. “But success will mean renewed hope for farmers, a greater feeling of working toward a common purpose and a larger share of the profits now reserved for the more powerful guests at the food system table.”

“With a growing number of farmers and agricultural economists reacting to agribusiness mergers,” said Levins, “a new way toward farm prosperity could take shape much more quickly than anyone has imagined possible.”