The grain bubble

Ernie · #41 01/22/08, 06:32 PM

I'll admit that I believe farmers are a special people, though I do not believe they must be protected from their own folly. Much of their own folly is handed to them in the form of scientific research. They need to stop listening to the Department of Agriculture, which is busy running them out of business, and start looking at the agricultural methods which have worked for thousands of years and which the Amish use successfully today without going bankrupt or in debt.

Farming is a special trade, worthy of special consideration, because upon it all civilization stands.

uyk7 · #42 01/22/08, 06:59 PM

"farmers are a special people"

Special? They are no more special than anyone else IMO.

sammyd · #43 01/22/08, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Amish use successfully today without going bankrupt or in debt.

More and more Amish in our area are not farming any more. They are construction workers cabinet makers and so forth.
Amish are also able to use funds from the church instead of having to deal with bankers and their high interest rates if they need some start up cash.
The Amish standard of living is less than most english folks and that makes a difference as well.
And you aren't going to feed the rest of the country with their methods. That's why they are not used anymore. When less than 2% of the population is working at feeding the country I don't think it's feasible.
We used to use those methods, they were the standard for many years but in todays world they just don't fit.

And for those of you who do not think farmers are special, think on texicans ideas of what would happen if they went away. Or maybe you can devise your own scenario where all the small farmers actually disappear and corporate farming takes over. Which thankfully ahsn't happened totally yet.

Ernie · #44 01/22/08, 11:18 PM

Well I still like the Amish, Sammy. They have great hats!

I don't know that we couldn't feed the country with simpler methods than the large ConAgra nonsense that goes on today. Too much of our calorie production is tied up in monocultures, and in America today we produce and waste far more calories than the average human needs. If the French fed all of Paris with smallholders, then why can't we feed all of America with smallholders? Though we have more people than 19th century Paris, we also have more land.

sammyd · #45 01/23/08, 02:14 AM

I agree about the hats.....
But you go tell the people that we are changing what we do and they will have to adapt their lifestyle to our new/old farming methods.
And no matter how you feel about it, you can tell the folks in Washington that we will have to buy in corn to make the goals they've set for ethanol production.
While you're at it you can tell the rest of the world that we will no longer be able to export to them.
I'm sure you'll be a popular guy, but maybe the hat will help :-)

susieM · #46 01/23/08, 02:51 AM

Drive less. Consume less. Party less.

bowdonkey · #47 01/23/08, 04:29 AM

Texican, you are right on. Our society has no idea what it takes to produce food in quanity, any kind of food. But they do know how to bitch with their mouth full.

uyk7 · #48 01/23/08, 05:35 AM

"And for those of you who do not think farmers are special, think on texicans ideas of what would happen if they went away"

Same with doctors, police officers, nurses, teachers, pilots, utility workers, plumbers, etc...

DaleK · #49 01/23/08, 07:42 AM

Most of us would survive fine without plumbers, electricians, teachers or pilots. It would be different but we'd be alive. Many of us would even survive without doctors or nurses. How many would be alive without food?

quietstar · #50 01/23/08, 08:20 AM

I agree! American farmers are the most productive in all history but are certainly not saints or in the habit of giving up their own interests(profits) in order to provide Americans with cheaper green beans. Most successful farmers have a financial statement heavy with profitable land investments, often financed through below market USDA sponsered loans that Donald Trump would envy. The current picture of todays professional farmer is likely to be the poor guy returning to the barn because the CD player in his air conditioned tractor quit working.

My heart warms recalling the yeoman farmers that were the strong heart of this great nation when it was being formed. They were independent, self reliant and had the courage to work their land wirhout any handouts. They made up most of the Minute Men that routed the King George Redcoats at Concord. Thomas Jefferson, Madison and Washington wrote of yeoman farmers many times, always with great respect.

We all can count among our friends a family of homesteaders, husband and wife both working to keep up with living costs. Comes the april tax man and they must put off much needed purchases to send tax money to Washington. Meanwhile, the modern professional farmer down the road gets his share of the latest USDA handout congress has approved that sucks up all his neighbors tax payment and a hundred more like his. It really offends when you know how many professional farmers have a net worth in the million dollar range. Then, they have the nerve to make the hollow, school yard threat that if we don't give them their special treatment, they will starve us to death! yeah..sure you will...Glen