The second and last part of the farming debate.
The fourth consequence of losing the American farmers is the loss of America as a super power. America is not only a super-power because of its awe inspiring military might. It is also a super power because it is self sufficient in providing itself with its own food. If America had to import food, it would show the world that this mighty country has to beg and grovel for scraps from another country. Without food, a populace can become discontent and abusive. Other countries would see that and could think, “If America can not even keep its own country in order, why should we trust it to protect and help us in times of trouble?” Just as OPEC controls America’s oil intake and prices, another country would control our food prices.
The fifth consequence is that if an economic depression occurred and there is a lack of farmers, a famine would ensue. America’s economy appears to be in a dangerous lull. One can hear on the news how the American dollar is depreciating in value and how the stock market is not stable. If an economic depression occurred, everyone would lose the money they have in the bank and stock market. Food could not be bought, but grown and bartered. Imagine, also, a decreased amount of farmers in America. The only food that could be consumed would be food that is grown in the United States because our government could not afford to import food. This very scenario occurred in the early 1900’s and is known as the Great Depression. Professor Gerhard Rempel of Western New England College had this to say about the Great Depression, In 1933 the world acreage devoted to wheat, rice, rye, maize, barley, and oats was larger than in 1929” (Rempel, para. 10). This information implies that farmers were growing enough food so that millions would not starve. Professor Rempel also stated, “As six out of seven human beings depended on cereals for most of their nourishment, this gain in agricultural production was a matter of the utmost importance” (Rempel, para. 10). If America slipped into an economic “coma” with the lack of farmers that it has today, many people would not able to afford foods such as wheat and corn.
The last consequence of the loss of the American farmer is the emotional stress that comes with selling the family farm. Most farmer’s farms and fields have been in the family for generations. It would be dealing an emotional death blow to have to sell a piece of land that was passed down from generation to generation. As an example, my family has had our farm for at least three generations. As my great-grandma told me, my relatives were sawyers in Juniata County Pennsylvania. Eventually, my family acquired some land from the family of a civil war general. My mother tells me that my grandfather is retiring in 2008 and my uncle will be left with the farm. If my uncle cannot make enough money off of the milk being sold, the farm will have to be sold. For me, personally, it would be extremely tragic. I would not be able to help milk the cows or fix miscellaneous items anymore and a great piece of my childhood would be ost. I am not the only one who feels this way. I conducted an interview with Eliza Love, my sister, and she had this to say, “I would really miss it (the farm) and all the memories of being
there.” If possible, Eliza plans on buying the farm. If the farm becomes sold and it is impossible to buy it, she says that she will, “Buy my own and start from scratch, save my money like I plan to do.” On a more local level, a soybean field had once flourished behind my house. When our amily first moved here, I can remember watching the farmer harvesting the soybeans. In the spring following the harvest, the field was barren. The farm was sold and now houses are springing up one after another. I am saddened by the event, but one can only imagine how the farmer feels after losing his farm.
The American farmer is a much needed person. He supplies this great country with much needed grain and food. The fact that farming has been around for thousands of years does not keep greedy contractors and real estate agents from buying up farm land. At least in Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties, one can see farm houses being torn down and developments being constructed. Right behind my house a proud soybean field once stood. Now, house after house is being erected. Many terrible consequences can result if farmers go out of business. Six major consequences are: an increase cost in food, a possible world famine, the importing of foreign food, the loss of America as a superpower, a depression, and the emotional loss of selling the family farm. If the growing tide of urbanism is not stopped, our country will have lost a great piece of American heritage.
Works Cited
Interview with Eliza Love on November 20, 2007.
Wisner, Bob, and Phil Baumel. "Will There Be Enough Corn: Implications for
Related Industries." Feedstuffs 76.30 (26 July 2004). Ag Decison Maker. Ed.
Don Hofstrand. Sept. 2004. Iowa State U. 28 Nov. 2007
.
Collins, Kevin. “Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance.” U.S
Agriculture and the Emerging Bioeconomy. 13 Oct. 2006
"Cross-Campus Initiative on Food Security." Cross-Campus Initiatives. U of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 26 Nov. 2007 .
Rempel, Gerhard. "The World Depression and Its Results." The World Depression
and Its Results. Western New England Coll. 26 Nov. 2007
.
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