[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SpringCreekFarm', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SpringCreekFarm', 'I') know a lot of farmers and I would guess that if they could convert their farms to grow endives instead of corn or beans and make a good buck , they would. When you have a million dollars worth of equipment that is designed to get beans and corn in the ground, it is a big jump to start growing row crop vegetables. If your land is clay based you're also insane to make such a jump.

They don't grow endives because it is not as macho as corn? Give your heads a shake. I would have assumed that with all the sharp pencils around here you'd figure it out but I guess not. These guys are tied to a career that is a hell of a lot of work and the risks are huge. The low commodity prices can sink them and often do. It is not a career for a lot of the pussies that make up todays non-farming populace.

Why don't some of you folks go right out and ask them why they complain and seem to be always struggling because it is clear that you probably haven't even met a farmer. As they've said to me time and time again when I ask them why they bother...."someone has to do it".

My family has been on this farm for many generations and they never jumped on the industrial farming bandwagon which so many farmers are on. The thing is....as much as I hate it....industrial farming is why you had something to eat today, unless of course, you are Wisjim who probably eats most of his own food.

When you are done asking the farmer why he is struggling, be sure to thank him for bothering to struggle.

[SpringCreekFarm]

I don't know what it is. I'm not an industrial ag type guy so maybe it's a loan program. I've never heard of any of the farmers in my area getting government money to NOT grow crops. Is that what you mean VM? I read about the US farmers getting subsidies but I've not heard about any here where I am.

It wouldn't surprise me if the American farm couldn't survive without the subsidies. These people see bigger bills every year and the price of their product either doesn't increase much or in some cases the price goes down. I'm not sure I agree with subsidies but I'd be careful about getting rid of them.

I'd like to also mention something else that I forgot earlier. Corn and beans are high calorie foods. Endives are mostly water from what I can tell, having never tried one..... The nation would starve if they all changed over to fancy crops, forsaking corn and beans. Just saying.

Someone has to grow these things.

[hermit]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('frankthetank', 'I') see... I bet its just a method these guys talk about to try to gather some of the rural votes... In my mind, farmers have the MOST SECURE jobs out there. The number one priority of most people i know is what they are going to eat next (eating is big in Wisconsin, so are the people)

[turner]

Just now reading 'The End of Food' by Paul Roberts, in which he contends that the major retailers are now so large that they are able to demand ever cheaper food from suppliers who in turn put further pressure on farmers. Even the larger agriculture businesses are constantly looking for ways to cut costs to meet the retailers demand for low prices, JIT delivery, uniformity of produce, etc. The result has been crunching on wages and profit, ever increasing investment in expensive equipment, ever increasing size of operations to produce economies of scale, and employment of techniques that potentially compromise the environment and the safety of food.

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('argyle', 'M')y father has a "saying about it". When he was young, you could with the same amount of money buy a barrel of salted herring, or you could buy yourself an amount of eggs (either directly from the farmer or fishhall). Nowadays with the money of those same amount of eggs a farmer would earn, you can't even afford you a single herring with it bought in the store!

[argyle]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('argyle', 'M')y father has a "saying about it". When he was young, you could with the same amount of money buy a barrel of salted herring, or you could buy yourself an amount of eggs (either directly from the farmer or fishhall). Nowadays with the money of those same amount of eggs a farmer would earn, you can't even afford you a single herring with it bought in the store!

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('argyle', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('argyle', 'M')y father has a "saying about it". When he was young, you could with the same amount of money buy a barrel of salted herring, or you could buy yourself an amount of eggs (either directly from the farmer or fishhall). Nowadays with the money of those same amount of eggs a farmer would earn, you can't even afford you a single herring with it bought in the store!

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

I am spending approximately 1/3 of my income on food every month feeding myself and three lean and ravenous teenagers.

they say up to 80% of all chickens have some stage of cancer when they hit the chopping block... you are what you eat.

[argyle]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('argyle', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pretorian', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('argyle', 'M')y father has a "saying about it". When he was young, you could with the same amount of money buy a barrel of salted herring, or you could buy yourself an amount of eggs (either directly from the farmer or fishhall). Nowadays with the money of those same amount of eggs a farmer would earn, you can't even afford you a single herring with it bought in the store!

[deMolay]

The real reason that the small farmer struggles is because of the economies of scale. The corporate farms are well financed and can utilize hundreds of thousands of acres of land and massive machinery. Which allows them to produce for less per acre in comparison to the little guy. The big guy floods the market with produce and the price goes down. He is even competing against food stuffs from China. I know this because I am a small rancher.

[turner]

[/quote]

It's not the producer that is to blame, not in fullest anyway. Consumers have the ability to change things and have a choice, but they got to put the money where their mouth is (and most ppl don't, as they take the more convenient route, and rather have a nice vacation on hawai for example)
If a consumer refuses to buy a type of article, then a producer just won't create it anymore as there is no market for it.. (but it's power in numbers, as a sole consumer you might not be able to change things, but you do have a choice!)[/quote]

The problem is that consumers want cheap prices - although they might be prepared to pay more for food if they knew what they were getting, but most people don't understand the REAL price differential between the cheap mass produced stuff and something worth eating. Ultimately, the same large business approach from retailers towards producers also extends to consumers. They are so large that their message of 'cheap' completely outweighs the smaller producers message of 'quality'. These organisations are only concerned about the bottom line and will do anything to convince the consumer to buy.

[3aidlillahi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he problem is that consumers want cheap prices - although they might be prepared to pay more for food if they knew what they were getting, but most people don't understand the REAL price differential between the cheap mass produced stuff and something worth eating.

[Tyler_JC]

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/gouge_map_milk_07.html
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/AWI.html

The median wage in 1951 was $2800/year.

In the early 1950s, milk sold for 18 cents a quart.

A median wage-earner could purchase 15,555 quarts of milk per year.

Today the median wage earner is paid $40,405/year (as of 2007).

$40,405/15,555 = $2.59

Does a quart of milk cost $2.59?

In NYC, the most expensive quart of milk cost $2.49. The cheapest was only $1.09. Split the difference and a quart of milk costs only $1.79. Milk has gotten 30% cheaper on a relative basis! Run the same experiment with every food item, you'll find the same result.

Food has gotten a lot cheaper relative to our incomes over the past 50 years. Even when you factor in the serious ag-inflation of the past decade.

[odegaard]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('3aidlillahi', '.')..
I am a consumer and, currently, not a producer. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I ate an organic piece of fruit last year - it was a pear. When I first bit into it, I was astonished and surprised as the juice ran down my lip. I've loved pears my entire life but they have never been that sweet or juicy before. Now, whenever I eat the free samples of non-organic fruits they have at the market, I always imagine what the real deal is like.
...

[topcat]

Why are they struggling?

Because it is always SOMETHING!

I/we grow truck crops and tree fruit. So Friday, while applying the second cover spray to one orchard, the pump blew on our ONLY three-point sprayer. When I had the sprayer at the shop last year to replace on oil seal, I tried to be proactive and have them do the diaphragms too. No such luck as they could not get the bolts out of the aluminum heads. Unit is 20+ years old. They did not want to 'force' the bolts, I did not either, as it was mid-July and in the midst of season.

Don't think they will be able to get them out now, a year later.

Still need to finish spraying the one orchard and the apple orchard is due for spraying Tuesday.

No used units around, either too big or too small.

Say good-bye to $3,000

Its always something.

Just one breakdown away from a breakdown.

(Venting over, for now.)

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('deMolay', 'T')he real reason that the small farmer struggles is because of the economies of scale. The corporate farms are well financed and can utilize hundreds of thousands of acres of land and massive machinery. Which allows them to produce for less per acre in comparison to the little guy. The big guy floods the market with produce and the price goes down. He is even competing against food stuffs from China. I know this because I am a small rancher.

[Quinny]

What are you spraying them with?

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('topcat', 'W')hy are they struggling?

Because it is always SOMETHING!

...

Say good-bye to $3,000

Its always something.

Just one breakdown away from a breakdown.

(Venting over, for now.)

[topcat]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hat are you spraying them with?
What are you spraying them with?

[topcat]

Cur:

Thanks, I feel the sunshine!