Quote Originally Posted by Philipvs Vallindervs Calicvla
Well there was an agrarian problem but it seems to be more on the order of people not wanting to go on service lest a senator grab their land while they were away, rather than an actual lack of farmers.
Yeah. Part of the social unrest from the late second century BC and on was even caused by such problems, so a reform of recruitment and/or the agrarian system was called for. The Gracchus-brothers didn't succeed with their agrarian reforms, so instead it ended being Marius and his recruitment reform that went ahead.