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Folks who've read my recent story "Our State Fair" may be interested in some of the background information that I, uh, fictionalized. As one commenter on my story has noted, a uterine transplant was apparently performed in Turkey last year. The medical communities of several countries are, in fact, vying to be the first to perform viable uterine transplants; I thought I'd make it easy on them by having the transplant occur between siblings. But now let's talk about food ...
I would recommend that everyone read Michael Pollan's book, "The Omnivore's Dilemma", especially the chapter regarding corn production. The entire book is eye-opening (not counting what it may do to your tummy!). Mr. Pollan also has given many speeches on that chapter, entitled "The Cornification of America". You can google that title and choose what form you wish to read or listen to it.
And, finally, the plight of the small single-family farm is part of the changing American economy, and while it's always trotted out for various elections, the sad truth is that "the American small farmer" is truly insignificant. According to the last US Census of agriculture (NASS, 2007) there are approximately 2.2 million farmers in the US, comprising less than 1% of the US population based on a current US population estimate of 300 million.
However, those 2.2 million include those who drive combines for giant agri-businesses, or run the processing plants (not something small farmers do), so the actual "American small farmer"--so beloved of politicians demanding and getting huge farm subsidies of taxpayer dollars--may in fact number only 800,000 or less. And that's individuals, not 800,000 family farms. I would have no problem with our money helping those families stay afloat, but the sad truth is that the politicians' farm subsidies go primarily to the huge agri-businesses, such as Archer Daniels Midland (adm.com; see also the Matt Damon movie "The Informant!" about ADM price fixing and other practices), who might be represented in my story. Possibly. Just maybe ...
The realities of our food--and the fuel consumption to provide it--is very, very different from the Accepted Truth.
And, finally, I was concerned about the Wilcox family!
Karin
Comments
About my story "Our State Fair"
Very much in line with http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/15964/center
May Your Light Forever Shine
Just a comment
Living here in Oklahoma, I'm surrounded by the vanishing species known as the Family Farm(er). Sweating it out year after year, going from being flooded out to year after year of devastating drought; rising expenses for doing anything; hoping against hope that they come out at the end of the year with enough money to put seed in the ground next season. The farm subsidy is a big boondoggle, but try and figure out a working replacement that helps the family farm before cutting the rope off above them.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Farm subsidies are necessary
I completely agree with everything you say, Karen. And you used the perfect word, "boondoggle" for the situation.
I strongly feel that politicians that campaign as "friends to the American farmer" are typically in the pocket of ADM, Monsanto, and the other giants. Monsanto's opening lines, by the way, are: "If there were one word to explain what Monsanto is about, it would have to be farmers."
And I feel they're in the pocket for two reasons from two different areas of concern. Obviously, the "Golden Rule" applies, meaning "Them's that gots the gold makes the rules". But it's far more complicated than the corrupt politician cliche, because of the second reason--America needs a lot of food, and the giant agri-businesses provide a lot of food.
The catch is the use of taxpayer money to subsidize corporations. That, I strongly feel, is wrong. The quarterly profits of ADM, Monsanto and the others are quite healthy, thank you. We're not bailing them out like Detroit. But the politicians use photos of the very farmers you mentioned, Karen, to ask for money that goes to the giants. ADM's website reports 2011 Working Capital at over $14 billion dollars with Sales in excess of $80 billion. They do not need a subsidy.
The true small farmer does, however. Any home owner that has endured a refinance, or qualified for the Making Homes Affordable Program on the federal level, could understand how it should work. Farms apply, and those in need, after evaluation of capital, assets, income/expenses, and so on, would receive a subsidy. There should be a "Making Farms Affordable Program"!
Under those terms, no agri-business would qualify. More money would and should go to the small farmer. By the way, one of the new concepts in healthy eating (and covered by Michael Pollan and others) is to eat no food that didn't exist when Grandma was around, and to not eat food that comes from more than 100 miles away. Aside from the health factor (and probably a reduction in obesity, especially among the young), this concept would stimulate small farm production (with hoped-for subsidies), and the "market garden" or "truck farm" form of food production.
Way off the topic of Terry Wilcox, but this is important stuff!
Karin
I really enjoyed the story.
I really enjoyed this story and the farmers plight appealed to me cause my dad an his twin brother an there younger sister grew up on a farm in south Georgia for a good portion of there life before they moved to middle georgia(ironicly after growing up near atlanta we moved back to middle georgia) but I heard stories about how hard things where even back then.
American Farmer
Also I recommend that you don't eat any CORN that is being used for making Fuel as it is a hibrid develope for this market and not for eating by human or animal either. Richard
Richard