One may bet this has my attention. I have thought for a long time the family farm was been miss used. My knowledge of farming goes back to how they farmed sixty years ago. That makes me a Conservative, right. When farmers raised the feed for the livestock they made their living with, the manure was a soil emolument, not a problem. Rotated four crops and raised three or four kinds of livestock was a hedge against market fluctuations. My Great Uncle, John Rose used to say”If the Ag.Teacher knew how to farm, he’d be farming”. Some truth to that. This “Volatility “ may be just what it takes to rethink how Iowa is farmed.
"When farmers raised the feed for the livestock they made their living with, the manure was a soil emolument, not a problem. Rotated four crops and raised three or four kinds of livestock was a hedge against market fluctuations." A perfect system, although it required commitment to a specific way of life---which was fabulous! I can still identify cow manure from hog manure--the fresh variety.
When I began a career in Construction Trades fifty three years ago, folks wondered at my ability with a Shovel. They would not have been if they had known that from six years of age, I cleaned out the GUTTERS of the dairy barn and also the concrete feed floor for the hogs. Those old farmers never went to a Bank to put in a crop.
What I have been doing the last fifty years during my exile from Iowa is finding ways to make a silk purse from a Sows ear if you will . The new tariff situation may provide an opportunity to rethink how Iowa farms. The current model is not serving the farmer and certainly not the Land that we were raised on. I don’t look it but I am also a trained educated and Degreed Scientist. I was trained to look at as many angles as possible and also collaborate with others doing the same thing. A scientist will make a single change and wait to see the outcome before making any other changes. Also, Mother Nature has a say, and I have learned that She will be heard. Observe, think, collaborate, consider. And go to sleep at night with the confidence that there is answer
Sadly, we're not talking about random people getting hurt. These are our neighbors and family who are getting axed. They aren't sucking on the government teat, they're an investment in our current and future success. You can't Make America Great Again by not investing in our country.
What makes a country a shithole is greedy oligarchs who don't invest in the country or the people. Mexico is a beautiful country with good hardworking people, but the poverty is heartbreaking. And we're fast becoming Mexico.
Every time I drove through Auburn, Iowa, last year there was a huge banner draped on the side of a building inscribed with “FARMERS FOR TRUMP”. How are they feeling now? Is that banner still there?
Tom, these are our neighbors, our relatives and the whole thing is maganificent to them, i seriously can't believe the naivete that these otherwise intelligent people are promoting. i'm not sure what they are smoking but they need to quit NOW...
I have to wonder... if the Commodity Credit Corporation fund catches the eye of Elon Musk's DOGE crew, will those funds disappear into the government waste bin before farmers are compensated for their crop investment when the bottom falls out of the grain market due to Trump's tariff policy? Trump seems to be giving DOGE's Elon Musk full reign, and our elected senators and representatives seem silent and powerless, even Iowa's Senator Grassley.
I wonder where one may buy a hog in Iowa that is not Chinese owned. No hurry: I'dl have to get the city to pass an ordnance that allows something besides barking dogs and subservient (female) chickens.
Hard to believe, given his COVID mismanagement, then cutting off China as a trading partner his first go...and he was re-elected. Driving up Highway 75 from the Big O to Dakota County, just north of Blair, all the Red Signs poking out of the fields. For the Midwest grain belt, FAFO.
One may bet this has my attention. I have thought for a long time the family farm was been miss used. My knowledge of farming goes back to how they farmed sixty years ago. That makes me a Conservative, right. When farmers raised the feed for the livestock they made their living with, the manure was a soil emolument, not a problem. Rotated four crops and raised three or four kinds of livestock was a hedge against market fluctuations. My Great Uncle, John Rose used to say”If the Ag.Teacher knew how to farm, he’d be farming”. Some truth to that. This “Volatility “ may be just what it takes to rethink how Iowa is farmed.
"When farmers raised the feed for the livestock they made their living with, the manure was a soil emolument, not a problem. Rotated four crops and raised three or four kinds of livestock was a hedge against market fluctuations." A perfect system, although it required commitment to a specific way of life---which was fabulous! I can still identify cow manure from hog manure--the fresh variety.
When I began a career in Construction Trades fifty three years ago, folks wondered at my ability with a Shovel. They would not have been if they had known that from six years of age, I cleaned out the GUTTERS of the dairy barn and also the concrete feed floor for the hogs. Those old farmers never went to a Bank to put in a crop.
Brian, I wish we could bring them back. The present state of agri-buisness was inevitable, but disappointing.
What I have been doing the last fifty years during my exile from Iowa is finding ways to make a silk purse from a Sows ear if you will . The new tariff situation may provide an opportunity to rethink how Iowa farms. The current model is not serving the farmer and certainly not the Land that we were raised on. I don’t look it but I am also a trained educated and Degreed Scientist. I was trained to look at as many angles as possible and also collaborate with others doing the same thing. A scientist will make a single change and wait to see the outcome before making any other changes. Also, Mother Nature has a say, and I have learned that She will be heard. Observe, think, collaborate, consider. And go to sleep at night with the confidence that there is answer
Sadly, we're not talking about random people getting hurt. These are our neighbors and family who are getting axed. They aren't sucking on the government teat, they're an investment in our current and future success. You can't Make America Great Again by not investing in our country.
What makes a country a shithole is greedy oligarchs who don't invest in the country or the people. Mexico is a beautiful country with good hardworking people, but the poverty is heartbreaking. And we're fast becoming Mexico.
"This is Trump Management by Bankruptcy and Firing as previously seen on reality TV."
Pitch perfect, Art. Thank you.
Every time I drove through Auburn, Iowa, last year there was a huge banner draped on the side of a building inscribed with “FARMERS FOR TRUMP”. How are they feeling now? Is that banner still there?
Tom, these are our neighbors, our relatives and the whole thing is maganificent to them, i seriously can't believe the naivete that these otherwise intelligent people are promoting. i'm not sure what they are smoking but they need to quit NOW...
I have to wonder... if the Commodity Credit Corporation fund catches the eye of Elon Musk's DOGE crew, will those funds disappear into the government waste bin before farmers are compensated for their crop investment when the bottom falls out of the grain market due to Trump's tariff policy? Trump seems to be giving DOGE's Elon Musk full reign, and our elected senators and representatives seem silent and powerless, even Iowa's Senator Grassley.
It's the follow-up that's always missing in Trump-world…
I wonder where one may buy a hog in Iowa that is not Chinese owned. No hurry: I'dl have to get the city to pass an ordnance that allows something besides barking dogs and subservient (female) chickens.
seriously, you can't kill something and then think you can reanimate it(american democracy). thank you Art for the inciteful message once again.
Hard to believe, given his COVID mismanagement, then cutting off China as a trading partner his first go...and he was re-elected. Driving up Highway 75 from the Big O to Dakota County, just north of Blair, all the Red Signs poking out of the fields. For the Midwest grain belt, FAFO.