Seeing the same issues here in the UK, just not so far down the road as what you have both described, as fresh produce is still available at local old fashioned markets which are made up of independent small businesses, not linked or owned by supermarkets. Our main issue is the outside investor looking to reduce their inheritance tax liability by buying lowland farmland, along with the rise of the corporate farmer who farms the land on behalf of the investor. These corporate farms seek economies of scale, through mechanization, and so cause the decline of rural communities through the demise of the family farms (as farms are sold and merged) and loss of farm workers and their families living locally. The outside investor has caused land prices to rise so much that they no longer reflect the economic return you can get from farming it, so any farmer wishing to expand has had to borrow over 25 years+ to compete for the purchase; which is a high risk, potentially unsustainable strategy (due to sensitivity to interest rate changes and inflation of key inputs) and cases already been seen of too much debt causing a "slow death" and the eventual sale of the farm. Guess the problem with food is that people have forgotten what wholesome, locally produced food tastes like, instead living off processed food which can be cooked easily and conveniently but lacks taste, nutritious quality and provenance. It seems attractive when cleverly marketed by the manufacturer and the supermarket, but it is just deception. As you mentioned, if the consumer understood the cost it was having on their health and that of their children they may start to understand the importance of fresh, unprocessed food and change their buying habits. Your fresh food Co-OP idea sounds excellent but I would suggest that it will only work long term if it is owned by the farmers who supply it. For otherwise the farmers may be tempted to leave for higher prices rather than support the Co-OP in good years and in bad years. Farmer owned Co-OP's here in the UK sadly didn't survive as supermarkets tempted farmers to sell direct to them (for a higher price, at first) and so slowly undermined the selling power of the Co-OP. Lastly, may I encourage you to to have a look at the TH-cam video done by Richard J Murphy (economist & accountant) with the title "inheritance tax charges are really good for real farmers". It may at first not seem relevant to US farmers, but please bear with it as I think you will find it is very relevant as he identifies the real issues affecting farmers, which are common to both US and UK farmers and ties in somewhat with your discussion. Thank you by the way for such an informative podcast. Hope you get other family farmers to see their need to change and cooperate with their family farming neighbours through your fresh Co-OP idea and so try to keep the foundations of rural communities intact. With best wishes, Andrew from Lancashire, England (grandson of a mixed tenant farmer from Yorkshire) "Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches - Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30.8) "I waited patiently for the Lord...He brought me up...out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." (Psalm 40.1,2) "It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118.8)
Nobody to blame but themselves. Guys went crazy based on want not need. They didn't pay attention to the old timers or there was no one there to tell them the history. I was fortunate enough to have had guidance from financially conservative farmers that came before me.
It’s all just a big Dick contest and it started back in the 70’s when Earl Butz changed the farm policy. Most farms I see have about three new Denali’s sitting outside the shop and the wife is driving a new suburban and there is a boat either at the lake or in the shop so I think the boys are doing ok. Sure people should know where their food comes from, they should also understand where their electricity and clean water comes from to but nobody gives a shit. That’s just the society we live in and until people have some real hard times it will never change. As far as labor goes, maybe treat people a little better and get into the community and let people know you are looking for help. Nobody is going to just drive down their driveway and ask it’s to intimidating.
We were having a conversation about our current food systems and how we’d like to see healthier alternatives for consumers along with our current processed commodities.
Looking at some organic farmers in our area. They are producing pretty good yields with less cost per acre. I don’t feel sorry for Monsanto or John Deere.
It allows you to hear the loudness of your voice or the echo you create when you back off the mike .. just makes for better quality audio in the production.
Seeing the same issues here in the UK, just not so far down the road as what you have both described, as fresh produce is still available at local old fashioned markets which are made up of independent small businesses, not linked or owned by supermarkets.
Our main issue is the outside investor looking to reduce their inheritance tax liability by buying lowland farmland, along with the rise of the corporate farmer who farms the land on behalf of the investor. These corporate farms seek economies of scale, through mechanization, and so cause the decline of rural communities through the demise of the family farms (as farms are sold and merged) and loss of farm workers and their families living locally.
The outside investor has caused land prices to rise so much that they no longer reflect the economic return you can get from farming it, so any farmer wishing to expand has had to borrow over 25 years+ to compete for the purchase; which is a high risk, potentially unsustainable strategy (due to sensitivity to interest rate changes and inflation of key inputs) and cases already been seen of too much debt causing a "slow death" and the eventual sale of the farm.
Guess the problem with food is that people have forgotten what wholesome, locally produced food tastes like, instead living off processed food which can be cooked easily and conveniently but lacks taste, nutritious quality and provenance. It seems attractive when cleverly marketed by the manufacturer and the supermarket, but it is just deception. As you mentioned, if the consumer understood the cost it was having on their health and that of their children they may start to understand the importance of fresh, unprocessed food and change their buying habits.
Your fresh food Co-OP idea sounds excellent but I would suggest that it will only work long term if it is owned by the farmers who supply it. For otherwise the farmers may be tempted to leave for higher prices rather than support the Co-OP in good years and in bad years. Farmer owned Co-OP's here in the UK sadly didn't survive as supermarkets tempted farmers to sell direct to them (for a higher price, at first) and so slowly undermined the selling power of the Co-OP.
Lastly, may I encourage you to to have a look at the TH-cam video done by Richard J Murphy (economist & accountant) with the title "inheritance tax charges are really good for real farmers". It may at first not seem relevant to US farmers, but please bear with it as I think you will find it is very relevant as he identifies the real issues affecting farmers, which are common to both US and UK farmers and ties in somewhat with your discussion.
Thank you by the way for such an informative podcast. Hope you get other family farmers to see their need to change and cooperate with their family farming neighbours through your fresh Co-OP idea and so try to keep the foundations of rural communities intact. With best wishes, Andrew from Lancashire, England (grandson of a mixed tenant farmer from Yorkshire)
"Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches -
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30.8)
"I waited patiently for the Lord...He brought me up...out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." (Psalm 40.1,2)
"It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118.8)
Thanks for your input we need more like you to help shed light and solve problems in our rural communities!
Nobody to blame but themselves. Guys went crazy based on want not need. They didn't pay attention to the old timers or there was no one there to tell them the history. I was fortunate enough to have had guidance from financially conservative farmers that came before me.
The conversation is about healthy alternatives to the current food system. For consumers and farmers.
It’s all just a big Dick contest and it started back in the 70’s when Earl Butz changed the farm policy. Most farms I see have about three new Denali’s sitting outside the shop and the wife is driving a new suburban and there is a boat either at the lake or in the shop so I think the boys are doing ok. Sure people should know where their food comes from, they should also understand where their electricity and clean water comes from to but nobody gives a shit. That’s just the society we live in and until people have some real hard times it will never change. As far as labor goes, maybe treat people a little better and get into the community and let people know you are looking for help. Nobody is going to just drive down their driveway and ask it’s to intimidating.
repeat---until people have real hard times it will never change!!! 80yr farmer here in aus!
We were having a conversation about our current food systems and how we’d like to see healthier alternatives for consumers along with our current processed commodities.
Looking at some organic farmers in our area. They are producing pretty good yields with less cost per acre. I don’t feel sorry for Monsanto or John Deere.
Agree
Why are 2 guys sitting across from each other talking wearing headphones??
It allows you to hear the loudness of your voice or the echo you create when you back off the mike .. just makes for better quality audio in the production.