Cyndi's Two Cents

Keep families on the farm

Commentary.

During the final days of this year many of us have stopped to reflect on highlights of 2016.  Those highlights might be memories of successes, but also of challenges and heartaches. Farming is not an easy life’s work and certainly not for the faint of heart.

I recently listened to a dairy farmer speak about the changes he has seen in his forty years of milking cows in southern Missouri.  Ted Sheppard, Missouri Dairy Association President said he currently receives 25% more at the farm gate than he did when he started selling milk in 1977. His costs, however have seen much greater increases.

Milk hauling has increased 300% since 1977.  Feed costs are up 200%. Milk replacer, diesel fuel, and the price paid for bulldozing service has increased 400% in 40 years.  Barn boots cost 600% more than they did in 1977 while electricity is 50% higher, and a new pick-up truck is 900% higher.

Sheppard said posts and wire cost him 450% more than they did when he first started farming and the price of alfalfa seed has risen 1000%.  Health insurance is a whopping 1200% higher than it was in 1977.

A quarter pounder at McDonald’s costs 400% more than it did in 1977 and a gallon of milk at the grocery store costs 350% more than it did 40 years ago.

This dairy farmer from Cabool, Missouri said if the dairyman doesn’t start getting his share, there won’t be any family dairy farms left in the state.  Yet, Ted Sheppard told us he would do it all over again.  The family farm life and raising his children on the farm was worth it.

Most farmers I know would say the same thing.  It was not an easy life, but it was worth it.  The work ethic that farm kids take with them, whether they stay in agriculture or go into another career field, is second to none.  I hear it and see it and have personally experienced it time and again when interviewing and hiring employees.

Although Ted’s comments ended on a positive note, the fact remains that the sharp edges of regulation, tax burdens and inflation have cut many in agriculture so deep the bleeding will not stop until no blood remains.  As so many of you know, the struggle is real.  Burdensome regulations on your business will not just go away with a new administration.  Consumers who believe GMO foods are poison and that meat, milk and eggs are pumped full of steroids and antibiotics will not simply and magically change their minds.

How our story unfolds is yet to be seen.  The world will always need agriculture but how and where that food is grown and who raises it in the future is yet to be determined.  Those of us with skin in the game must work together through our local, state and national Ag organizations to turn up the volume of our collective voice.  We must communicate with and educate our friends and neighbors.

Let us go barreling into 2017 with a plan to do what we can to stop the blood-letting on so many family farms.  Get involved.  Stay educated.

Happy New Year!C