"The farm just won't get tended if the farmer isn't there, and these amber waves of grain might just disappear." ~Merle Haggard
(All photos from my own family's farm)
I recently received an email discussing 25 things that are becoming extinct in America. Some were predictable. Landline telephones, VCRs, and cameras that use film. Okay, I thought. Makes me feel old because I certainly remember a time (not so long ago!) when I used each of these things. Some were interesting. Honeybees (apparently they have some bad disease) and analog television (don't even know what that means!).
But do you know what the number one was? The family farm.
I have so many issues with this, I dont't think it will fit in one blog. First off, how can we even feel that the family farm can be in any type of category with honeybees and VCRs? Do we not realize how important family farms are? That they are our food supply, play a major role in our national economy, and provide an incomparable way of life for so many people? Maybe the majority of Americans don't. 
Today, the average American is four generations removed from the farm. FOUR GENERATIONS! That means that most people in the US don't even remember going to their grandparents' farm....much less actually growing up on one themselves. People don't know where their food comes from. They don't know what it feels like to raise animals from the time they are born, to rack your brain to decide what ram to breed your best ewe to or what bull you need to buy semen from. They don't know what it's like to get on a horse and ride across your family's land.
This disconnect between agriculture and the public is only going to get worse. Currently, the US is losing 500 family farms every week. In 1950, there were 5.3 million farms scattered across the country. By 2003, there were fewer than 2.1 million. Fewer farms mean fewer opportunities for people to experience and understand the agricultural way of life.
What is the solution to this problem? I'll tell you what I think it is....it's time for those of us in the agricultural industry to go on the offensive! It's time for us to get out there and let people know where their food comes from, how hard we work on our farms, and how expensive equiptment and seed is, especially when compared to commodity prices. For us to be able to survive, we have got to find ways to educte the public about the importance of agriculture.
But do you know what the number one was? The family farm.
I have so many issues with this, I dont't think it will fit in one blog. First off, how can we even feel that the family farm can be in any type of category with honeybees and VCRs? Do we not realize how important family farms are? That they are our food supply, play a major role in our national economy, and provide an incomparable way of life for so many people? Maybe the majority of Americans don't. Today, the average American is four generations removed from the farm. FOUR GENERATIONS! That means that most people in the US don't even remember going to their grandparents' farm....much less actually growing up on one themselves. People don't know where their food comes from. They don't know what it feels like to raise animals from the time they are born, to rack your brain to decide what ram to breed your best ewe to or what bull you need to buy semen from. They don't know what it's like to get on a horse and ride across your family's land.
This disconnect between agriculture and the public is only going to get worse. Currently, the US is losing 500 family farms every week. In 1950, there were 5.3 million farms scattered across the country. By 2003, there were fewer than 2.1 million. Fewer farms mean fewer opportunities for people to experience and understand the agricultural way of life.What is the solution to this problem? I'll tell you what I think it is....it's time for those of us in the agricultural industry to go on the offensive! It's time for us to get out there and let people know where their food comes from, how hard we work on our farms, and how expensive equiptment and seed is, especially when compared to commodity prices. For us to be able to survive, we have got to find ways to educte the public about the importance of agriculture.
What are the benefits of a family farm? Why do I care so much? Do families really still even own farms? These are stories for another day....stay tuned! I'm ready to talk, I hope you're ready to listen!
2 comments:
I completely agree with you Tiff. It is so sad to think that the family farm is going on the downslide. It breaks my heart to think that more and more farms/ranches are sinking. In my animal science class we talk about all of these issues and it is so great to know I can educate these students about agriculture!
Well said Tiffany! Tonight we had a warm-up Creed contest to get ready for District tonight and one of the mom's (a ranch mom) was like, "I Don't Believe in the future of Agriculture" and "I'd never talk my kid into production ag." Granted she is a Debbie Downer sort, but still I was appalled at how this lady, who is a product of the Ag lifestyle could have such a bad outlook on it. I realize times are tough, but gosh, if the actual rancher doesn't love thier lifestyle, who is going to??
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