Re: corporate farming consequences

["JS M" <jbiggs50@hotmail.com>]

You wrote:
>"Using one word for agriculture is a little like using one word for 
>transportation.  There is as big a difference between small scale farms and 
>corporate agribusiness as there is between bicyclists and the auto 
>industry."

O.K., I might buy into that. However, it's the environmental regulator 
(Washington DOE) that has lumped all agriculture together in the Non-Point 
Source Plan.  And, almost all agriculture in the immediate area grows three 
crops exclusively.  This is more due to the subsidy structure than anything 
else.  So, one government program in charge of cleaning up the consequences 
of another.

>"Very simply, small-scale family farmers have traditionally had an
>investment in their land and in their communities which made them, by and 
>large, good stewards of the land."

This is the general perception and is logical.  But, maybe a myth.  One 
homeowner has an investment in his land and the place is a dump; the 
neighbor has the same investment and the place is as neat as pin.  Where's 
the proof of this small farm stewardship locally?

>"The consequence is that when issues that come up that may
>harm the big guys they push the family farmer to the front to say "you're 
>putting me out of business."  This pits family farms against 
>environmentalist while the big guys continue to buy up more land and more 
>pieces of the food system. When issues which threaten to differentiate the 
>big guys from the small farmer come up all is quiet in the media and lot's 
>of money flows in Washington DC."

So, the family farmer hasn't figured this out?  I've seen nothing but great 
gusto from our local farmers when they proclaim "it's us against them."  I 
think our viewpoints are pretty much the same, but you're assuming the same 
good-guy-bad-guy world view that a lot of farmers have.  It would help the 
credibility of farmers if they wouldn't take such joy in proclaiming their 
sacred place in the pantheon of american icons.  Imagine if I had the same 
attitude as a government worker.

>"Yes, non-point source pollution is considerable from farms around here.  
>The reasons that farmers haven't changed their methods is complex.  
>Nevertheless they are changing, slowly, to more environmentally sound 
>practices."

Prove it.  Most farmers in Whitman County don't even contour their tillage 
and plant fence-post to fence-post without any buffers in their drainages.

>"The most current problem with agriculture and the environment
and becoming increasingly become more important, is the proliferation of 
confined feeding operations and concentrated feedlots."

Amen to that.  The grain grown around here is perfect for feeding a large 
pig operation.  The problem is access to market and water.  When Highway 95 
is redone and Washington figures out the state-wide water rights problems, 
we might very well see a pork producer move in.

Thanx for your comments, it's interesting stuff.
jm

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