Rural vs. Urban? They're different, for sure. [View all]

[MineralMan]

I've lived in rural settings and in a major city. Generally, when people talk about rural populations, they're talking about people who grow stuff and the people who supply those farmers with the things they need.

We didn't do so well with rural America in the most recent election. Part of the reason is that we ignored that segment of the population during the campaign. Rural communities are sort of used to that. But, this year, that segment didn't vote for the Democratic candidate. I don't pretend to know why, really. But they didn't, and that made a huge difference in three states we had to win. It wasn't a large margin, but it was enough to turn the race.

My parents, who are now 92 years old, own a small (just 15 acres) orange and avocado farm just outside of a small town in Southern California. They should have sold it several years ago, but it was their dream and they just don't feel up to moving at this point, so they'll probably die there.

The farm hasn't made a profit for 10 years. Most of the citrus and avocado acreage has been converted to row crops in that area. There are many reasons for that, but the profitability of the citrus industry and avocado industry has plummeted. My father will probably pay to have all of the trees on his farm pulled out and burned next year. Why? Because it costs him more money to farm the place than the crop brings in. The price of citrus and avocados has dropped, due to imports from Mexico, Argentina and other places. The costs of irrigating, pest control and other things has risen faster than inflation. The result is losing money every year.

So, he can pull all the trees and burn them and do much better financially. It hurts him to do that. And then there are the other things that cost money. Here's one that makes absolutely no sense: The State of California now requires that he pay $1000 per year for someone to come into the orchard and look for feces on the ground. Oranges are picked from the trees. Fallen fruit is not collected for sale. There's no way for feces from rabbits, deer, coyotes and the occasional bear to contaminate the fruit. And yet, his farm must be inspected by someone who walks up and down the rows of trees looking for crap. It makes no sense at all, but there is no option. Now, $1000 doesn't sound like much, but its something being paid for no benefit to anyone. Some agency somewhere decided that all farms have to be inspected. However, imported fruit coming into the country has no such requirements. Add to that the fact that all oranges and avocados are washed before being sold in a multi-step process that leaves them free of all contamination.

That's just one expense among many that their farm incurs every year. Many of the others, too, make no practical sense, but are mandated by some agency somewhere. Of course, the farmers all think it's the Democrats who have instituted such regulations, and it pisses them off.

Does it make any sense as a reason Trump won in agricultural areas? Not to me. Not to most others who have no knowledge of farming practices and costs. But, my father is going to pull all of the trees, because he can't afford to farm any longer. Instead of making a small profit, he is guaranteed to lose money if he keeps them. Now, that doesn't make any sense, either.

Now, when you go into your supermarket or specialty grocer in the city and buy orange or avocados, you probably never give a thought to how they were grown, by whom, or even where, really. But, you're not likely to ever see any from my parents' farm again. It makes no sense for them to pay more to grow them than they get for their crop. BTW, my parents voted for Hillary, anyway. Lots of people in ag country didn't, though. Many identify Democrats and "Liberals" for much of the stuff that makes no sense to them. Sometimes, they're right, actually.