General Discussion

MuseRider

(35,174 posts)

11. It truly is a mess

Wed Nov 27, 2013, 03:10 PM

Nov 2013

with factory farms undercutting and weather extremes. Thankfully what I grow is needed right around here. I get what I need to feed my horses and goats and the hay guy gets the rest to sell. He depends on me to take care of my end and I depend on him to do his. Growing hay grass is a little more stable, everyone around here needs it but one more year like the last 3 and I will be without hay for even my own needs. Good hay pastures for miles around have been bought by the nearby city for factories. It is likely going to get very difficult for the cattle farmers.

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8 Things I Learned While Farming this Summer [View all] KurtNYC Nov 2013 OP

Nice observations. Thank you. Comrade Grumpy Nov 2013 #1

Good post. Thanks. n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #2

As a born on a farm and former farmer, yes. Todays_Illusion Nov 2013 #3

That was another item I learned -- that many farmers have a "day job" KurtNYC Nov 2013 #33

Spouses as well ... for family medical insurance SomeGuyInEagan Nov 2013 #37

The vast majority of farmers in Japan are "part-timers" Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #63

Not to mention . . . Richard D Nov 2013 #4

The best soil anywhere on the planet? I know there are farmers here in IA who would differ. Vincardog Nov 2013 #7

Ah, that's the Red River Valley in North Dakota and Canada. RC Nov 2013 #19

You are absolutely right. Iowa has the best soil. Beautiful soil. JDPriestly Nov 2013 #24

"Best farm land in the WORLD" to quote my BIL Vincardog Nov 2013 #26

I will hold my Oxnard Plains strawberries to any contest from any place in Iowa.. Tikki Nov 2013 #42

Soil AND Climate. As the planet warms, Minnesota, North Dakota, Manitoba, Ontario Thor_MN Nov 2013 #57

What is your corn yield? Vincardog Nov 2013 #60

Apples and oranges, strawberries and corn…on the way up through CA Central Valley they do.. Tikki Nov 2013 #62

In IA they measure land by the CORN yield Vincardog Nov 2013 #64

I totally believe that…...nice people there... Tikki Nov 2013 #65

farmers need to start building more soil. mopinko Nov 2013 #59

It's tough. We see the romantic fun side at farmer's markets. What part of the country wiggs Nov 2013 #5

I'm in the Hudson Valley these days KurtNYC Nov 2013 #34

I bought the first issue of that magazine. MadrasT Nov 2013 #54

Yep. You have been farming RobertEarl Nov 2013 #6

Thank you for the generally bad news. It's good for us consumers to know what our food suppliers' ancianita Nov 2013 #8

There is a solution but like many solutions most won't hear or see the simplicity. mcdeavitt Nov 2013 #9

...and aquaponics produces fish. Blanks Nov 2013 #13

Very true mcdeavitt Nov 2013 #21

Excellent. Blanks Nov 2013 #25

Tilapia fry mcdeavitt Nov 2013 #28

Tilapia Depot has them jmowreader Nov 2013 #46

Thanks Blanks Nov 2013 #52

Welcome to DU, mcdeavitt! calimary Nov 2013 #38

Thanks mcdeavitt Nov 2013 #41

Chemical weapons? WTF? Berlum Nov 2013 #10

Seriously, where do you think pesticides come from? Blanks Nov 2013 #14

Phosgene was used extensively in WWI to kill humans. AtheistCrusader Nov 2013 #20

Corporations, Inc. (R) Berlum Nov 2013 #29

Thank you for admitting you know nothing about farming. We can all move on faster, and that's helpfu AtheistCrusader Nov 2013 #16

The more common term would be "pesticides". (nt) jeff47 Nov 2013 #17

Isn't that what DDT, Agent Orange and glyphosate are? KurtNYC Nov 2013 #35

glyphosate is an herbicide... Berlum Nov 2013 #45

It truly is a mess MuseRider Nov 2013 #11

Right now, prices are the best they have been murielm99 Nov 2013 #12

It isn't the farm subsidies in and of themselves that are the problem. JDPriestly Nov 2013 #23

Yep. progressoid Nov 2013 #30

I consider subsidies to be insurance eridani Nov 2013 #40

Good points all. I would add... Jerry442 Nov 2013 #15

I had to laugh, LWolf Nov 2013 #18

Here's a good article on CSA's. They are becoming very popular KoKo Nov 2013 #27

That's it! LWolf Nov 2013 #32

The movement is growing in areas of the Southeast where Farmers KoKo Nov 2013 #43

The small American family farm is trying to compete in a game rigged against them. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2013 #47

My grandfather was a pretty successful farmer. JDPriestly Nov 2013 #22

I've always admired farmers Warpy Nov 2013 #31

k&r.... spanone Nov 2013 #36

Thoughtful post.. sendero Nov 2013 #39

The economic system would be sounder if everyones income varied each year by chance FarCenter Nov 2013 #44

If you want to grow celery anywhere but Oxnard California KamaAina Nov 2013 #48

Georgia has onions and peanuts. KamaAina Nov 2013 #49

DURec... bvar22 Nov 2013 #50

The farmer's wife libodem Nov 2013 #51

Thank you, Kurt. I'm going to save this for my husband to read, because he really wants to farm. loudsue Nov 2013 #53

Makes me think of two of my favorite bumper stickers ybbor Nov 2013 #55

No. 3 TomClash Nov 2013 #56

It being a gamble can't be stressed enough. JoeyT Nov 2013 #58

i have acres of raspberries, they grow good on the hard rocky ground on my mountain lot loli phabay Nov 2013 #61

I tried planting some, JoeyT Nov 2013 #66