Daily English 1036 - Farming and Agribusiness

Complete Lesson

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Dialogue/Story

Slow Speed begins at: 1:08
Explanation begins at: 2:55
Normal Speed begins at: 18:18

Brad: Is this your first visit to this area?

Irene: It is and I’m surprised to see so many farms. I thought farming was a dying industry.

Brad: Family farms and small-scale farming are disappearing, but agribusiness is alive and well, thanks to government subsidies.

Irene: Are they lucrative?

Brad: They can be, but the subsidies were originally given to protect the livelihood of farmers.

Irene: And that’s not what’s happening?

Brad: Well, agribusiness has edged out small- scale farms because output is the name of the game. A lot of small- scale farmers have thrown in the towel.

Irene: That’s a shame, but the subsidies are still used to protect domestic food production, right?

Brad: That may be, but we’re losing a way of life. I come from a long line of farmers.

Irene: And you’re not farming?

Brad: Nope.

Irene: What do you do?

Brad: I work for the government agency that gives out subsidies to the very farms that put us out of business.

Irene: That’s quite a twist of fate.

Brad: You said it.

Category: Business