The reason for the decline in farmers is the 2% return on investment, and 50 cents per hour or less for their labor. (Price of land and equipment is astronomical for farming)
I have lived and worked it since I was born, which means I have been helping outside since I was about 4. I think Dad took me out on the tractor to give mom a break…………But people don’t farm for $$$$$--they do it because they love it and live it.
Actually, we aren’t in favor of mega-farms either. The quality in the product isn’t the same. If someone has only bought grocery-store beef or chicken, they have no idea how good that product could really taste.
But the government has always subsidized cheap food, and it has been at the expense of the farmer’s pocketbook. And then the economy of scale factors come in, which supports the mega-farms and farm programs.
I will check around for some of the info that is talked about in combating bad press…….and I am the first to admit, some of the press is correct…..just not all of it.
Thanks for trying to be informed----
Karen
-----Original Message-----
From: fast5@yahoogroups.
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 8:36 AM
To: fast5@yahoogroups.
Subject: [fast5] Re: Need encouragement/ spiritual practice?
And you know what Karen? I love you guys for the work you do. In fact, I've been known to drive 85 miles round trip every weekend for raw locally produced milk. And there is a farm that I get grass fed beef from in Missouri ( I live in MD). So I totally support the farmers making a living doing what's right and what humans have done for thousands of years. My "beef" is with the large agro-firms that hire illegals and push as much "product" through as they can with no regard to the life forms they are handling.
I had read that at the turn of the 20th century, 95% of Americans were farmers. 100 years later, 5% are farmers. This is especially troubling to me.
I'd like to see that article if you get the chance. I've read about the rocket fuel in the lettuce, but not the hormones.
Thanks for all of your work Karen. It is much appreciated.
-Rick
--- In fast5@yahoogroups.
>
> I was really interested in your numbers about the $$$$ involved with
> skipping one meal per week.
>
> But we raise cattle, and I dairy-farmed for 25 years, and not all
> meat/dairy products are produced in the "big" farm picture.
>
> Lots of farmers and livestock producers are doing what they think is best
> for the health and welfare of the crops and livestock they grow. The
> almighty buck is just a necessary evil of the banker. Most farmers get
> less than a 2% return on investment on everything they own, and usually do
> not even calculate a return on labor for the hours they work. It would be
> too depressing to even think about.
>
> Livestock producers check cattle 7 days a week, often every 2 hours all
> day and night long, in calving season. We take calves into the house to
> try and get them warmed up in cold weather, and learn how to give IVs and
> shots and medications only if necessary to get them to live. The stories
> I can tell you about farmers putting their livestock before themselves and
> their families are endless.
>
> Even the big boys try and get the livestock to live. Essential to their
> bottom line. I read an article once about comparing the hormones in
> beef to that in fresh lettuce, and the lettuce was much higher.....but I
> have to find it again. I will try and not put out that kind of info
> without a direct source.
>
> We feed our own cattle out, and do no implants or hormones, and there
> isn't a market for selling 60 head of cattle handled this way, to offset
> the extra costs.
>
> There is a gap between the small operations that grown things this way,
> and people concerned about these issues.
>
> Just an honest opinion/observation from "the other side"
>
> Karen
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