I was watching a YouTube video the other day, the video being a report about the future of farming in the United States. One statistic jumped out at me and hit me like a ton of manure: it is estimated that in the next twenty years, $24 trillion in farm property and equipment will change hands, the largest property exchange ever in this country.
Why?
Baby boomers who are farmers will be retiring, giving up the farming ghost, as it were, selling their farms and their farm equipment.
As you know, I’m sure, the Baby Boomer Generation was the largest in numbers this world has ever seen, and a decent percentage of that generation chose to operate farms back in the 60’s and 70’s.
As you also know, I’m sure, farming is a back-breaking, exhausting, all-consuming profession, and the Baby Boomers are getting older and more tired with each day. Now, in past decades, farmers would simply pass their farms down to their children, and the children would pick up the torch and carry on the tradition. The only problem is that the children of Baby Boomers, for the most part, have no desire to carry on the tradition. Did I mention that farming is back-breaking, exhausting, and all-consuming?
Which leads us to this question: who is going to pick up that torch?
The frightening answer to that question is corporations, and it is happening as we speak. Thousands of acres of prime farmland are being purchased by foreign corporations; in addition, existing mega-farm corporations here in the U.S. are adding to their holdings. And that, quite frankly, should concern you greatly, for the day that mega-corporations control the production and distribution of food in this county, we are all in a world of hurt.
Oh, wait, we already are!
We need small farms.
Bev’s son and his wife operate a goat farm. They have, currently, about eighty “milkers,” and from that goat milk they produce quality cheeses, most notably their award-winning chevre. Let me tell you, they work their asses off. A farm requires a 24/7 commitment, and on the best of days it is exhausting to the max. Bev and I help out on the farm when we have time, and even the part-time work we provide is enough to make me grateful I do not do it full-time. Perhaps when I was younger it would have been enticing, but not at seventy-six, so I totally understand why the Baby Boomer Generation is ready for a break.
This is all a rambling statement of concern and nothing more. I do not want to see the day when small farms do not exist. I want to see farmers’ markets flourish, not disappear. I want to see young families continuing in the footprints of those farmers who came before, and I do not want to see the day when small farms go the way of the dinosaurs.
Please, if at all possible, support your local farmers.
I hear you, my friend. It may well be the best we can hope for is to be on the right side of this issue. So be it.
Best wishes and love, winging their way across the Pond.
bill
No worries Bill…. I agree, the cheap imports and those families who struggle have to watch their pennies… I fully understand that, and I was one of them once upon a time when my family were young… As we struggled to make ends meet…
The supermarkets here especially in England are a big cause of Farmers Problems, as they want their carrots and cauliflowers etc to be just the right shape.. Which means a lot of food is rejected by supermarkets that get ploughed back…. And we know farmers get a pittance compared to supermarket profits…
At least we know Bill we are on the right side of History in this regard..
Sending LOVE and a Happy Thanksgiving to you.. We as you know in England do not celebrate it 🙂 lol… Have a great weekend xx <3
Sue, I apologize for the delay in answering. I managed to set your reply aside and then promptly forgot about it.
As long as the majority of Americans are struggling to pay bills, they will continue to go to the discount markets where they can buy cheap produce and fruit shipped a month earlier from foreign countries. I have no doubt about that. I doubt my words will change anything but when I die I at least will know I did what I could to support local farms.
Blessings to you always, my friend.
As you probably know Bill, I am all in support of farmers and support local farm shops… In fact we had the most wonderful porkpie from one last weekend and sausages..
We are still getting fresh veggies from our allotment..
The worrying thing also Bill is Who is buying up all of this farm land.. I hear Bill Gates is one of the ones busy buying up land.. 🤔
Here in England the government are stopping subsidies on certain farming, and instead are encouraging farmers to plant meadows or rent land for windfarms or solar farms… Hummm not good when the sun docent shine that much here in the UK… and the wind doesn’t blow everyday.. I am all for saving our planet, but not at the expense of not growing food..
You may have also heard that our new Labour government in their recent budget have put an inheritance tax on farmers.. Even if they die and pass to their spouse… Farms valued with stock of over One Million Pounds will pay a huge tax bill… Not sustainable..
We are having a huge protest of farmers going to London on the 19th Nov, over it..
Yes farmers work 24/7, and darn hard… Many are working knowing that when they die, the farm that may well have been in the family for generations may no longer be sustainable.. as the debt these taxes will be such a burden..
When you think equipment on these farms such a harvesters etc… can cost up to half a million,, Some of these small farmers are going to be put out of business . It is a subject dear to my heart Bill… I support our local farmers where ever possible.. xx
Sis, something has got to change. We cannot have a food chain controlled by corporations. That will turn out badly for us all. I hope people wake up and see the value of private family farms before it is too late.
Bro….No surprise I was born, raised, schooled & continued to live the majority of my life in FARM COUNTRY! Dairy farms, Crop Farms, Sheep Farms and even Buffalo Farms..& more….In the area I currently reside, one cannot drive for more than 5 to 10 miles in any direction, without passing farm after farm and their accompanying roadside stands, selling the wonderful, healthy “Home-Grown” products of their blood, sweat & tears. I can never forget my Mom and sister and I and all the canning and freezing of fruits and veggies!
Take away our farms or allow them to vanish?? Never! For Heaven’s sake, we’d be a VAST Ghost area! I’m with you Bro! Thanks for yet another of your thoughtful, educational and important messages!!
That is very nice of you to say. Thank you!
Your writing is not only informative but also incredibly inspiring. You have a knack for sparking curiosity and encouraging critical thinking. Thank you for being such a positive influence!
Ann, my optimism wears every bit as thin as yours. I try to keep everything in perspective. Massive change takes decades to happen. I do believe we will find out way, but I doubt I will be alive to see it happen. So be it. All I can do is keep raising the red flag of warning and hope it does some good.
Blessings to you always, dear friend.
bill
No, it does not, Andrea. I hope we are wrong, but I am quite certain we are not.
I appreciate your kind words. Thank you!
Your blog is a treasure trove of valuable insights and thought-provoking commentary. Your dedication to your craft is evident in every word you write. Keep up the fantastic work!
And all of this doesn’t bode well for animal welfare or the planet we live on…
Ann, I’m grateful when anyone else makes a typo error because I make them all the time.
That should’ve been ‘farmers’ not ‘dormers’!!
Once again, Bill, it’s the same here, sadly. There is a big push to support local firms of every kind, which is great, but the small dormers are now being clobbered with tax by our Labour government – and there’s me thinking they’re behind working people! How naive I am!
I do my bit and hope fir the best. Even my optimism is wearing thin. Too many bad things happening. BUT – I can see the new generation becoming so much more aware of how important the environment, nature, and slowing pollution are, so my optimism is with them.
If we all concentrate on the positive we might get there and we might even enjoy the hard work!
You’re so good at keeping us all on our toes, Bill. The world needs more like that.
All the best!
Ann