#Agriculture is the foundation of every urbanized nation and without a solid agricultural base, a nation will not be self-sufficient in providing basic needs for its people. Minnesota is one of the states in America that has a rich and expansive agricultural sector and it is slowly being threatened by unhampered industrial growth. It is important for the state to strike a balance between industry and agriculture for one cannot survive without the other. 

From 1992 to 2012, an estimated 31 million acres of land in the U.S. were converted to commercial and housing areas: an expanse of rich agricultural land the size of Iowa, destroyed and converted. The massive impact in agricultural production may not be felt in Minnesota since most farm produce can be acquired from other states, but the loss of such agricultural potential is concerning. 

Future threats of population explosion and the sudden need for emergency food during a crisis will hit hard in a state or country that has a weak agricultural sector. The government may resort to importing food from other countries to augment the limited resources our country has due to massive conversion of arable land into concrete pavement. 

Aside from the problem of losing rich and fertile lands to urbanization is also the loss of people skilled in farming. As children grow up, most of them will have other goals in mind, especially if the prospect of a future in agriculture is dwindling due to the rapid urbanization of the state. Existing farmers are aging and their skills must be passed down to future generations. If our state will not support our farmers and protect their land from conversion, then we are also destroying the foundation of our future. 

Furthermore, the loss of land is not the only problem. An urban city is intended to attract people from other states. The influx of individuals increases food consumption, which can only be met by the level of agricultural production of the state. If the supply does not meet the demand, the option of the state is to bring in supplies from other areas of the country. It will increase cost, retail prices and may hurt the local agriculture business due to massive competition from out-of-state suppliers. 

Agricultural development is a major factor for the success of the United States. The production capability of the United States to provide agricultural produce is what kept this country independent from foreign aid. Food production is so abundant that the problem is not of scarcity, but rather overabundance. This is a good problem.

Cutting the roots of prosperity and severing the connection to the land through urbanization will detach humanity from the richness of the Earth. Farmlands should be protected from further destruction and rapid urbanization must be kept in check in Minnesota. While agriculture and industry are both essential to a modern society, there must be a balance.