Logan52
Well-known member
I grew up believing the "free market" was the ideal goal for the farm economy, that over time growing demand for farm products would bring prosperity to the farm. Under this scheme, free trade would allow us to feed and clothe the world.
Now, after nearly a lifetime of watching higher yields and more production destroy prices and not increase profit for the farmer, I am wondering if maybe I have been wrong all along. Our region has changed from one of prosperous small farms to a kind of rural housing project for low income druggies.
Maybe farming needs something like the old tobacco program that regulated both prices and production. Times were certainly better back then for the average farmer.
Now, after nearly a lifetime of watching higher yields and more production destroy prices and not increase profit for the farmer, I am wondering if maybe I have been wrong all along. Our region has changed from one of prosperous small farms to a kind of rural housing project for low income druggies.
Maybe farming needs something like the old tobacco program that regulated both prices and production. Times were certainly better back then for the average farmer.