Lifestyles

When farmers suffer, we all suffer

By BECKY NELSON
Bramblings
As I write, a late season blizzard is set to hit the middle states of our nation. Flooding has already wiped out farms and communities a bit south of the states about to be hit. Blizzards, flooding rains and damaging winds have swept through the country several times in the last few weeks. The beginnings of spring have made for a tough ride in lots of communities, and a lot of farmers are suffering. As I have written before, the suicide rate amongst farmers is alarming, and their suffering will affect us all.

We may give a nod of sympathy or send a few dollars to relief agencies, but in our relative safety and isolation, we don’t really think these things are affecting us unless we have friends or loved ones living in the affected areas. We are all about to get swept up into the aftermath, however. Gas prices are rising. Due to the devastation of lots of farmland that may not be able to plant their corn crops that ethanol production relies upon, the cost of this crop-based fuel has gone up or is going up. Corn is used in myriad products that we rely on in our daily lives … cereal, corn syrup, corn starch and cornmeal used in a variety of food products, and the affected farmers are facing anguishing decisions about whether to plant or not plant, how they are going to survive the disasters and whether or not to abandon farming altogether. These are hard times in our nation’s corn belt.

Lots of products are reliant on corn production that you may never think about. Sorbitol, used in toothpaste, chewing gum and other products, is made from corn. Of course we are all aware of corn syrup that is used in everything from baked goods to yogurt and salad dressing. Corn is used as feed for almost all of your meat … chicken, pork and beef … and is also used for vitamin D fortification of milk. Corn is used in make-up, shampoo, glue on envelopes, caramel coloring, grain alcohol in perfume, cornstarch in eco-friendly diapers and even as a coating on aspirin. A low in corn production will make these and more products more expensive. It’s amazing how a disaster in one part of the country reaches us in unexpected and unanticipated ways. Corn produced in the Midwest and Plains states is used in producing your pet food, stock feed for your hens, goats, horses, bird seed and house pets. The costs of all will go up if plantings and corn production is disrupted. 

Not just because of natural disaster, but any disruption to farming, the closure of farms due to economic hardship, the rising costs of employment and unwillingness of workers to perform hard, physical and demanding farm work and the struggles of farmers to acquire needed loans and financial backing is going to affect each and every one of us. Higher prices are what we will notice, and may not even make the correlation between these higher price tags and farms. We are beginning to see these increases, and you need to know that much of these pressures at the pump and in the stores can be traced directly back to farms and the losses and struggles they are undergoing.

Support domestic growers by buying American when you can. It is estimated that 50 percent of our fruit and vegetables are imported from other countries, and almost 80 percent of our seafood is imported. Support local fishermen. Support local farmers. Pay the extra dollars to help insure you can eat even if disruptions occur in delivering food occur.

We live a very fragile existence, in reality. Our reliance on crops goes well beyond the dinner plate, and we need to be aware of what changes in climate, agricultural practices and transportation mean to us. A disruption in any part of the the food chain of planting, growing, harvesting, processing, transportation and stocking of shelves can and will have a devastating effect on every corner of the country and beyond.

I have seen internet memes and bumperstickers urging us to think of farmers when we eat our three meals and multiple snacks of the day. I urge you to think of farmers when you put on your perfume, make-up or cologne, lick your envelope to send your mortgage payment and change the diaper of your newest son, daughter or grandchild. When farmers suffer, we all suffer. Please do what you can by supporting local agriculture and staying informed about how you can help the American farmer. Help improve the financial atmosphere for domestic farmers by buying local and being aware of where your food and related products come from. Be aware and care.

 

Becky is co-owner of Beaver Pond Farm in Newport: [email protected].

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