Are farmers in the USA more satisfied with their situation under the current government?

[Alex_northern_germany]

Small, American farms are failing at a rapid pace. If I owned a small farm and I watched as the current administration supported Argentine ranchers while my small farm was failing -- I'd be something far worse than "unsatisfied."

New Census Shows Alarming Loss of Family Farms

www.fb.org

The slow death of the family farm

Small, diversified family farms are declining, but many U.S. farms still qualify as “family farms,” even as corporate consolidation grows.

foodprint.org

Why America’s Family Farms Are Disappearing From the Landscape

A deep look at the economic, cultural, and technological forces behind the decline of the American family farm and its impact on rural life.

www.headcountcoffee.com

That's a sad thing, but it's happening here too. In my opinion, smaller farms need to focus on higher-quality products and try to develop their own marketing channels to become independent of the big players. In the EU, larger farms receive more subsidies than smaller ones, so the demise of smaller farms is practically inevitable. Agriculture used to be better organized in cooperatives and was therefore more independent from speculators.

 

[SaxonJackson]

That's a sad thing, but it's happening here too. In my opinion, smaller farms need to focus on higher-quality products and try to develop their own marketing channels to become independent of the big players. In the EU, larger farms receive more subsidies than smaller ones, so the demise of smaller farms is practically inevitable. Agriculture used to be better organized in cooperatives and was therefore more independent from speculators.

I can't speak for Germany but America's small farms do create quality products. In many cases, many small farms will contract with a large company. The large company does the marketing so the small farms can focus on producing milk, eggs, crops, etc.

For instance: There's a large corporation called "Organic Valley." I buy milk and cheese with their logo. On the front of their milk carton you'll see "ETHICALLY SOURCED FROM SMALL FAMILY FARMS." Then, on the back you'll read this statement: "Small Farms - Big Impact. We're a farmer-owned co-op made up of small family farms dedicated to the principles of organic agriculture, including sustainable farming practices and animal care. Your purchase helps to keep these farms going strong for generations to come, creating a brighter future for all of us."

So small farms associated with this large company may be safe -- for the time being. But there are tens of thousands of small farms that are less fortunate. Between government regulations; the rapid increase in the cost of equipment & feed; the increase in the cost of transportation; and the encroachment of huge, mega corporations like Monsanto, Cargill, Tyson, etc., small farms end up breaking even or losing money.

Also, small farms rely heavily on rain and a frost-free growing season. So their success relies heavily on perfect weather patterns.

 

[JWBooth]

I can't speak for Germany but America's small farms do create quality products. In many cases, many small farms will contract with a large company. The large company does the marketing so the small farms can focus on producing milk, eggs, crops, etc.

For instance: There's a large corporation called "Organic Valley." I buy milk and cheese with their logo. On the front of their milk carton you'll see "ETHICALLY SOURCED FROM SMALL FAMILY FARMS." Then, on the back you'll read this statement: "Small Farms - Big Impact. We're a farmer-owned co-op made up of small family farms dedicated to the principles of organic agriculture, including sustainable farming practices and animal care. Your purchase helps to keep these farms going strong for generations to come, creating a brighter future for all of us."

So small farms associated with this large company may be safe -- for the time being. But there are tens of thousands of small farms that are less fortunate. Between government regulations; the rapid increase in the cost of equipment & feed; the increase in the cost of transportation; and the encroachment of huge, mega corporations like Monsanto, Cargill, Tyson, etc., small farms end up breaking even or losing money.

Also, small farms rely heavily on rain and a frost-free growing season. So their success relies heavily on perfect weather patterns.

Those co-ops are most usually the best sources for quality products. Not always though. IIrc Blue Diamond almonds started as a co-op.

 

[Hafar1014]

As a European, it's difficult for me to judge objectively; you read this or that. As far as I understand, the farmers had hoped for an improvement in their situation. Has it improved?

Yes gas has dropped after Biden drove up the cost. Fuel is the foundation of farming costs. Tariffs from the nations that tariff them were used to help them.

 

[BothWings]

I don't know, EU folks are weird about contacting them out of the blue.

There were a bunch of Swiss K31 rifles imported a couple decades ago and most of them had the soldier's name and address on a plastic tag under the butt plate (they took their rifles home with them) after training sessions.

Some of the new owners contacted them and I heard more that a few were not pleased to be bothered.

I've already been in touch with one German realative and we built a great rapport that lasted for quite a few years. We kind of drifted away after some time but it was always amicable. Germans are very interested in their lineage and relatives and love to note and document everyone they are related to. There's a difference between that and some American gun nut (no offense,I'm kind of a gun nut too!) contacting them over a rifle that reminds them of times they may want to forget.

However, its true Americans are way too familiar with people they don't know. In fact, in France it was referrred to as "greasy American familiarity". I'm not fond of the French, but I know what they mean and I don't like it either. And we weren't always like that. "Bro, buddy, baby, sweety, honey". I HATE that shit. There's a t-shirt I want to get that says "Don't BRO me if ya don't KNOW me". Good one. I prefer to be conservative with strangers and my take time getting deep and cozy with people. That phony familiarty shit is presumptuous and shallow and makes me want to puke thumb tacks.

Some years ago I sold a syntheiszer to a kid in Russia and also bought a red-dot scope from some old geezer there too. Both times it wook like a month to send the stuff and both guys struck up a pen pal relationship with me and were cool as fk! I know theyre not mainstream Europeans. Actually, my German father told me Russian women are almost as spoiled and narcissistic as American women.....the modern ones, anyway.

 

[1srelluc]

....my German father told me Russian women are almost as spoiled and narcissistic as American women.....the modern ones, anyway.

I would not mind spoiling one.

 

[BothWings]

I would not mind spoiling one.

I will never suck up to any female that way.