Farmers losing hope, suicide up

[speckledhen]

I realize that water flowing past can't be fenced off, etc, that we don't actually own the river or any portion thereof, but there is no way someone will put a meter on my well or tell me I cannot put a barrel out to collect rainwater, not on my own property that I pay taxes on and on the well that I maintain with my own $$$. And they won't tell me I can't have a pond if I could dig one (gee, wish I could up on this mtn!) I'm pretty sure no state owns the clouds that rain falls from, so it's mine, mine, all mine! It's not ground water till it hits the ground.

As far as farmers go, it's not getting better, probably never will . There will soon be laws that the gov't owns all land and whatever is grown on it, I'm betting. It's headed that way quickly. Sad death of the U.S.

 

[Stumpy]

Uh-oh. This concerns me for my friend's husband, who has a family history of depression. He's never done anything but farm, and they've been going in the hole for years.

 

[farmerlor]

Y'know, even those of us who really ARE just hobby farmers are still helping feed people. We provide information about how food is grown, we show people that food that is organic and free of harmful chemicals can taste better than store bought food and we often donate food to those in need in our communities. Anyone who thinks that corporate America buying up all the farms and switching to Genetically modified foods is a good idea apparently doesn't know anything about food beyond which aisle in the store has the Doritos.

 

[Whispering Winds]

I am just so overwelmed by all these posts, I don't know what to do. I would like to cry, and am floored that I had no idea things had gotten that bad with farming. Where we live, it doesn't matter what the weather is, good crops or bad, every farmer we know boo hoos about how bad he has it, so we have just been immune to the real situation I think. BUT, what about all these programs that give kickbacks to the farmers for not tilling and all that? There is a website I know in Illinois that you can go too, don't know what it is, but it tells you what each farmer got back for a kickback, and one big farming family got back over a million dollars in 07. I have a friend who keeps track, and its a ton of money that is given back.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
There used to be set aside programs where you left part of your land idle and the government paid us a payment that was supposed to help make up the difference in what we would have made off those acres.....but it never did. Those programs other than the CRP program are pretty much non existant anymore, and the CRP program (which we don't qualify for) looks like it's being phased out too. The set aside programs were suppose to keep the grain supplies lower to help keep the grain prices stable.

For those of you who think the farm bills are padding all us farmer's pockets I'd like to share some figures with you. These percentages are from the current farm program and where the monies end up....it might surprise some of you.

Research, inspection & administration........6%
Rural development......................................3%
International...............................................2%
Conservation & forestry.............................11%
Farm & Commodity programs......................19%
Food Assistance..........................................59%

Only 19% of the Farm bill goes to the farmers....Maybe it should be called the Food Assistance Bill next time to give a true reflection of where the farm bill money goes.

 

[beefy]

(this post is not directed at anyone)

like i said, the average person has no idea what is going on with farming. they are just so far removed. the only way that people would ever have a clue is if they had to do it themselves, and lets face it, modern day americans are probably lazy enough that they would starve to death first. and most of the others just wouldnt have a clue what to do. its easy for one to sit on the sidelines and be a supervisor and criticize the farmers when you are not the one dealing with the elements, the stress, the market fluctuations, the cashflow, the property taxes,the fuel, the machinery maintenance, etc. (usually on top of trying to support a family). this is where (i get this all the time) "all that money" that is "given out" goes to. if there is any at all left over from one year (theres not) it is either used toward the next years crop or needed to make up for the previous years crop. its not like a handout or foodstamps or anything. the only real perk to farming is the lifestyle, and even thats not enough for many to make up for the incessant and overwhelming constant bombardments mentioned above . not to mention the drought/floods which we have no control over at all. farming can be and often is a thankless job for many. but who cares right, farmers shouldnt bellyache so much.

 

[beak]

Quote:
I think you probably summed it up pretty well. Your farm is a lifestyle and has always been there. It is part of your life. If you lost it you might not be able to replace the chunk of yourself that went with it.

 

[Fudgie]

Quote:
They are allowed to speak, so we don't feel like such morons doing our DUMB BORING NO BRAINER farming activities to feed those morons!!!

 

[beak]

In Colorado, people have water rights. The water rights are quite often worth as much as the land. People with full water rights on their land can pretty much do what they want. To have a well here you need a well permit. The permit states how much water you may pull out of the ground. Part of the permit includes a meter. As someone else posted the state owns the water. Rights must be purchased from the state. In good years they can grow hay and wheat here without irrigation. Corn has to have irrigation. This should be a good year for dry land farming. We've had a lot of rain on the plains this spring.

Water control has been around forever. Nothing new. If you check your well permit you might be unpleasantly surprised.

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
When the "Farm Boys" pack it in and this fool is starving I want to be a fly on the wall! What a moron!

I wonder where they think their food comes from? oh yah the supermarket

Gives a new meaning to "farmers are a dying breed".
I would like to see the government give them a billion dollar bailout . Let the "suits" figure out how they will pay for their new Porsche. Can't eat a Porsche (or a keyboard).
Farmers are hard working people, the backbone of every country and they deserve some respect.
Willie needs to do another Farm Aid.