Intern argues Vermont agriculture must diversify away from dairy for sustainability

An intern (self-identified earlier as Mara Coben) said large-scale industrial production is unsustainable and argued that bringing farming 'back to the people' is necessary for both ecological and economic health. The intern said: "We practice a way of food production which is unsustainable..." and added that soil and water depletion risk reducing the base for productive farming.

The intern urged diversification away from dairy, noting Vermont’s traditional dairy economy faces economic pressure from large-scale producers elsewhere and that smaller-scale vegetable production and forestry are possible alternatives. The intern said converting large conventional operations to organic systems can be slow and resource-intensive; speakers cited conversion timelines of 'eight to ten years' to restore beneficial insect populations and soil health.

Why it matters: the remarks frame community-supported agriculture as part of a broader sustainable-agriculture response to economic pressures on dairy farmers and global environmental challenges. The segment concluded with the host thanking the participants and indicating further coverage would follow.

Source and provenance: Interview with an intern (identified in the recording as Mara Coben) in the Focus segment at Intervale Community Farm.