From the vault, January 1, 1990:
Farming has always been viewed as a noble profession.
To be sure, it was hard work as the farmer had to rise before the Sun did in order to tend to his livestock/crops, plow his fields, sow his seeds, harvest his produce, and take his livestock/crops to market, day after day. In between those signature tasks, he had to feed and bed his livestock, fertilize his crops, and repair/replace his equipment.
At the end of the growing season, the farmer crunched the numbers to see if he had made some money. If he had, he could relax (briefly!) and celebrate as he saw fit. If he had not, a trip to the bank was necessary in order to take out a loan to cover the next season’s expenses.
The farmer persevered, however, because he believed that farming was a noble profession. He it was who had to work the soil/raise the live stock in order to feed a growing population. He it was who was a significant part of the cycle of Life on Earth and he dared not shirk his duties.
Nowadays, however, the farmer faces a greater struggle as large corporations have been formed to compete and to undermine the independent farmer. These corporate “farmers” use a factory model to produce livestock/crops on a mass scale, thus forcing the independents out of business and buying the vacated land in order to increase the corporate reach – and their profits! Independents who continue to persevere are forced to purchase and use toxic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers and non-fertile seeds.
Worse, the corporate “farmers” will sue the independents for “patent violations” if their non-fertile seeds happen to find their way into an independent field, either by wind power or scavenging animals/birds. The suits carry enormous dollar figures which no independent could pay in his lifetime, and he would be forced to file for bankruptcy. Consequently, the corporates could add to their holdings and seek domination of all food production in America.
These new “robber barons” must be stopped, if not for the sake of the independents then for the sake of all Americans who would face high-priced and/or artificial foodstuffs. Farming must become a noble profession once again.
In this regard, The Chas recommends the following remedies:
•First and foremost, American farmers must switch to regenerative agriculture and encourage the use of natural pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers and fertile seeds in order to produce soil enrichment;
•Ban the manufacture, distribution, and sale of all toxic products and non-fertile seeds;
•Regulate and tax the corporate “farms” rigorously and/or break them up into smaller units;
•Abolish all agricultural subsidies and establish a “base price” for all crops/herds which would cover a farmer’s cost of operations;
•Promote the establishment of “food banks,” county by county, which would deliver any surplus foodstuffs to charitable organizations — e.g. day-care centers, nursing homes, and homeless shelters — and to schools and hospitals; and
•Revive the concept of the “grange” (farmers “union”) to aid farmers in the management of their properties.
Just a thought.