Mary Berry Smith chronicles her farm tour of Western Kentucky in an essay at Front Porch Republic. Here is a sample:
I would like to say a few things about the abuse of the farmer in the system. In contrast to the first farms we visited, the CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feed Operation) was markedly different. Three generations of a farm family were there—grandfather, father and grandson—but they never spoke. Their banker spoke, an extension agent and a representative from the companies that process the farmers’ chickens and hogs spoke.
...The representative from the pork company was truly astonishing. He told us that the farmer was a million dollars in debt to his company, and that the farmer’s profit was in the manure he could spread on his cornfields to sell to other farmers. (The problem of that manure is for another time.) He also exhorted us to tell others that these are great places and not to worry about pollution or disease because science would take care of it.
He actually suggested to us all the things there are to worry about in this system and then told us that science—the word “magic” could be substituted here—would solve all problems. He, of course, made the cheap food argument and the feeding-the-world argument, which I have come to regard as pure fantasy. You cannot make a case for feeding people by destroying the source of food. And anyone with any imagination could see that the same amount of meat could be produced in that area by having more farms and farmers raising animals in a sustainable way.
One way to revitalize small town and rural America would be to end federal subsidy and regulation that favor agribusiness over sustainable agriculture.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
I spent last weekend in a fairly small Nebraska town where my youngest is doing a two year teaching stint through Creighton's Magis program. Charming with friendly inhabitants, I couldn't help but ponder the future of this and still smaller towns in a global economy. The town's pharmacies and grocery stores have closed because they cannot compete with Walmart and Walgreens. I assume, but don't know, that the farmers are dependent on agribusiness for their sustenance. As banks consolidate, I assume some of the legal work (title work, etc) have moved to Omaha or Lincoln.
Are there models for building thriving and dynamic small rural communities given the market conditions today that don't involve antique stores or becoming the location for a Walmart distribution center?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
10 Religious companies (besides Chick-fil-A). Call me skeptical!
UPDATE: For the real deal, check out Our Project.
