Desperate Farmers of a dying environment.

Good story Paschen.  This is a problem all over, in addition farmers are faced with outrageous input costs.  Most of them can.t survive without an operations loan in the spring.  GM seed is blown all over the countryside and then the large corporations claim that farmers are stealing their seed.  We won.t even talk about the high costs of equipment and maintenance. 

Well written , the most neglected section of the society, ie, farmers.Even in India hundreds of farmers opted to suicide due to failure of crop and resulting financial burden.

In praise of farmers!  Im not sure I agree with you, Uwe.  I don't think farmers can always be regarded as victims of forces beyond their control.  There are, after all, a huge number of suiccess stories of small farmers doing well.  Farming varies enormously from region to region and it is almost impossible to generalise.  In Devon (SW England), where I was brought up, 100 acres and a good dairy herd would see you make a tidy profit. China has a fifth of the world's population, yet produces enough food for them (it is more or less self sufficient) from a tenth of the world's arable land, using only 6% of the water supplies of the world!  That is a record of fantastic agricultural efficiency!  .Parts of Indian agriculture are enormously  successful too.  After all, Indian farmers brought about a huge increase in food production during the so called Green Revolution.  GM food is not an issue in the US;  I don't think it is necessarily good or bad - just a way of productioon that works for some and not for others. But I do think the subsidies that Europe, the US and Japan pay their farmers is doing enormous damage by undercutting cotton farmers for example in both West Africa and India.  I don understand why the WTO does not ban subsidies which are after all gross protectionism. The other issue that the world is slowing changing is the appalling shortfall in agricultural investment since the 1980s, something that is recognised now.  FINALLY, (and I promise to stop!) we in the Global North consume four times the food available to those in the Global South (according to historian John  Pointing), and no one blinks an eyelid about it.  Such inequalities are completely unjust! AMEN!

New bills being drafted in the USA may lead to the demise of organic and backyard farming, some believe will pave the way for Monsantos.

Monsantos has threatened to sue Germany for banning GM corn seed.

I can.t disagree with your comments, however I would like to make a couple of points.  A farmer in North America with less than 2 sections of land cannot make a living off farming.  I suspect that input costs in North America are much higher than in both India and China.  As an example if you had hayland, in my area you would be lucky to produce 2 larger round bales per acre  (approximately 1200 lbs per bale).  To yield this you need a hay bind or swatter to cut it, followed by curing it approximately for a week, while it is exposed to the elements.  The hay then has to be raked before you finally bale it. 

A round bale yields approximately 30 - 50 CAD, depending on the season.  Our grazing season for cows here ranges from around the beginning of May to late October.  The rest of the year cattle has to be fed hay and some grain. 

My time to stop rambling and whining.  A family farm basically exists here because farmers go out and find jobs to keep their land and farm going.  I also think that most of them will die with the babyboomer generation.  The next generation is not interested in the hardship and do not have the same attachment to the land.

Good for you djermano.  There is too much of this hidden stuff going on.  Who knows what is really in our ground water and our rivers and lakes. 

Thank You Paschen!  This is a very good article.  I can't wait to show it to my brother.We see the writing on the wall. Of course he has for much longer than me.  I came home from the city to take care of my parents and witness as a grown up the business of farming.  There is  little encouragement to me except for the closeness to the earth, nature and more opportunities for building one's soul than office jobs.  The little farm communities barely exist with the redistribution of the elementary and secondary schools to a county big school.  It has affected so so much of family living not just for farmers.  Little churches have withered and most businesses due to WAL Mart. 

I think albertacowpoke is correct.  It is dying with the babyboomer generation.  Deals made with the devils a long time ago are in stone now.  Government and chemical companies.

Uwe, receive my sincere compliments for bringing this story to our attention. As an industrialist, I always have been against GM. Indeed I dealt with Monsanto in the past about equipment, so I learnt first hand the developemnet of GM. In the end I stopped talking to them about this subject, because it is like differences in religions and tastes. I know exactly where you are talking about, because I also have been at loggerhead with the EU's common agriculture policy in another way. Even my experience with FAO meets with your complains. I sincerely hope that this financial crisis will make a change in those counterproductive policies. Once politicians become aware that money has to be spend differently they might quit the Farm subsidies and there dictating policies. One way or another it is my believe that this mess will come to an end. And hopefully people are realizing that they need the farmers more than anybody else. Back to basics will be the best step in the right direction. We'll watch and see. Thanks PIM

I think it's just awful what has happened to the farming industry. The business of farming just cannot survive the 21st century even though we still need farming and what farmers do to survive. I feel like it's a losing battle here though.

amy, It.s a battle we can.t afford to lose.  The problem as I see it, is that a lot of the folks living in cities have no idea where there food comes from.  It shows up on supermarket shelves.  To the credit of some schools in Alberta, they do take farm tours with their classes to educate kids that their food cannot just be taken for granted.  Hopefully some eyes will be opned for the next generation.

You know there is a way to solve that problem. The farmers get together and setup their own store, in fact they can setup a regional network...where they don't sell to the middle man any more. They sell the milk at their store Just think if they sold it for 50ct per liter..they would be helping themselves and giving the customer a savings and break in the price.

Rev. Jermano

Naru is a problems faced by farming they are one of the biggest produces of fertiliser there digging is what  keeps them afloat there need to be more soils composting before there is a lifeless farm with dying tree on mountain perimeter i have seen this rising ground water lay wast to many trees if there is no management then the creation of a subterranean sea could make the farm baron  .

Good for you djermano, I wish more would have that kind of Civil courage and ethics to live by. Thanks that is really good to hear.

It is a vicious circle in deed and with pollution and environmental changes it will only get worth. 

Thank you for the comment and input here Amitjha.

Alberta is right, it is astounding that parents and kids don't even know the names of vegetables and fruits that are on sale, let alone the way those crops are grown. I recently witnessed a general inquiry under thousands of school going kids, that showed over 80% don't have the slightest idea let alone the interest. Very worrisome and disturbing indeed.

Farmers have a real bad time with the mad cow disease here in the uk. I find the plight of the farmers worrying. The farmers and their workers are what I call real men who graft so hard in their work. Up at the crack of dawn and long days and nights looking after the animals and plantation. It is so shameful that the goverments do not assist these guys through the bad times.

All I can say is that having lots of money must be even better than I imagined, because so many folks murder themselves when it is gone!  Trust me, the sun still shines when you're broke. Give it a shot -- instead of yourself.

Blessings!

Mary

I agree with jazzyzazzy Farmers in Europe on the continent get 22ct/liter for their milk that doesn't cover the cost. In the shops we are charged for the same 67ct/liter. Farmers need at least 44ct/liter milk to make their production sustainable. Despite widespread protests from the farmers, there is no change! Awful.

This is an article that has absolutely NOT ONE COMMENT that is crude, rude or stupid.  Think about that!

I am glad the editors pick this for it does deserve staying up a while for there are also so many good links that each by itself could launch into a piece.

It is also a reflection too that more farmers such as your family can prevail that one can hope for justice and fight.

  In our area there are no good warriors for our men who work so hard...no political men help who have never had dirt under their fingernails or know anything about agriculture.  They are usually lobbied by big Monsanto.

I had a neighbor when I lived in St Louis who was a scientist. (young, with a new family).  I listened to his wife bemoan his unhappiness with the hierachy there.  After just about a year he came home devastated that he had to fire everyone in his department.  Young families just like his who may have just moved to St Louis expecting financial security.  He became ill for he was a good hearted man.  He found a job with a university immediately and left them after seeing how ruthless the climate was.   It is always ultimately about the money and control and maybe something worse we don't want to imagine.

Your are right djermano, that already happens here, not for milk, because that is restricted by sanitazion laws, due to sterilization and patrization processes that has to be undertaken under strict conditions and performances, all regulated by the authorities. But for vegetables and fruits there is a widespread initiative for selling farmers produce direct to the consumer and are a great success.

Uwe, thanks for a great first-hand insight.

In relation, this site will definitely keep you interested :

http://www.veriatv.com/world/video/natural-medicine-in-the-himalayas.html

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Thank you Fred for the link and input here, much appreciated. Great link.

You know PIM, when I worked on the farm milking cows, we would dump the milk into strainers into a big stainless steel milk tank. The tank would keep the milk cold. I remember after a morning or afternoon of baling hay...we would all come into the milkhouse and dip in with our cups a big cold glass of milk. Boy was that ever tastey and good. It was not pasteurized yet....we never got sick....... And the process of pasteurization certainly does not cost the amount they would have you believe. You can probably and easily setup your own pasteurization process as well. The middle guys are the greedy people...who use the farmers, and use the public to suck us into their lies and cronyism.  I would not give up on this.

I also remember this was before Monsanto got its grip on the Dairy Industry, and before farmers began injecting hormones into the cows.

http://www.tuberose.com/Dairy_Products.html.....

How to Pasteurize Milk:

Heat milk to 161 degrees F for at least 15 seconds, agitating to ensure milk is entirely heated, even the foam must reach 161. Microwaving doesn't work due to uneven heating. Use good food thermometer, and clean kitchen techniques to avoid recontamination after pastuerization.

or see here: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Pasteurize-Milk-at-Home/.....

Rev. Jermano

Farmers need to get involved in tourism such as in the article I have just written about Agriturisomo. This has worked in Italy and educates people about small farmers. Italy has many programs on Italian TV that promote local products and encourage Italians to use local products.  It always amazes me how well they promote their agriculture. I know that US farmers have suffered for years and never could understand why they don't do more promotion and education about their industry and products.  Farmers markets are crowded wherever you go in the US, yet there is a lack of understanding of how to effectively promote farms.  They need to take a look at the Italians who instill passion among Italians for Italian agriculture. They need to get creative and get people interested in supporting them.  I live here in Switzerland surrounded by dairy farms.  They also are doing a lot to attract tourists. Tourism is a great way to educate people.

thank you.

I believe we already  have a lot of invisible, old fashioned farmers who pull their trucks up and around, go to local farmer markets especially and sell their extra's.  They are not attractive to the "drive bys" but they lead nice simple lives and are not dependent on a lot of  "toys'.  Italy and Switzerland are very small areas. 

I know it is unreal what true city people think about food.  Just as I was appalled at a video I saw the other day on CNN about animals killed and brought in to the women who started pounding, cleaning and chopping up in plain sight!  It was repulsive to me and I am a farm girl!  I have seen chickens caught , de headed, plucked and fish being gutted and de scaled. It is what one sees growing up I suppose.  I have already heard my grandchildren shout out , "can you buy that for me?"  WHAT?!!   What happened to crafts and projects at home can be never ending.  Gardening, cooking, sewing, all are about creation......CREATIVITY.  It satisfies an inexplicable need humans have to be able to make something; anything functional is very fulfilling.

Food has lost it's true meaning to us.  Children , young people and adults are clueless at the work  process for just producing ; not to mention the magic and joy of its natural transformation.  I still marvel at the stages of growth.

Perhaps some program for schools to incorporate more by visiting farms and not once a year but in sequence to follow the planting , growth and harvest. The process of slaughtering the sharks so people can sip on shark fin soup was  a lesson for me.  I believe this was called Planet In Peril .

We need to list the organizations that are the counterparts to the Monsanto’s of the world. People who are saving seeds etc. and teaching sustainable farming. We can survive as a species if we educate each other and stay connected with tools such as the internet etc. Spread love. Spread peace. Face down evil. Confront criminals. Everything.

Very good Idea.....and I agree... The way to stop Monsanto is to not buy their poison.

Rev. Jermano

Okay, so what does one do djermano with a lot of acreage?  That is feasible for small  farm's and gardener's to go natural.

Who are the good people who are standing up to Monsanto?