Interview with Framers in the Miami Valley Area of Ohio

Foreign. Area that. Spans our great res graphics. And really what's going to happen. Finally. For me. Right. And then the process or series of everything. Support free form to make. And there are a lot of

big. International Corporate owning morals here. Maybe they have no allegiance whatsoever to what's right for our country. Hands yes to me. And I think a little dangerous. For us to leave our supply of food in the hands of people in the hands of this type of structure. To keep a new nose for gasoline. Well be paying for food. Of the end. Of the. It is a well known cliche that the farmers are the backbone of the nation. Your farmers have become almost a forgotten segment of an increasingly urban society. We take it for granted that someone out there is producing the

food that fills our supermarkets. We tend to think of the economic system in industrial terms of labor and management. That a generation or two very close to high noon on the farm very close. Brothers want to find. Almost. Before almost anybody. The farmer finds himself in the middle of having to come to grips with economy in three directions. Here's a producer who must invest heavily in the tools of production. He was a marketer needs to bring a reasonable price for his goods and he is like everyone else a consumer Questa by his personal needs. As recently as 1910. Over half the population of the US was classified as a rule. And 170 census report only 26 percent of the total population is rural dwellers with less than half of those living on farms. Since 1940 the number of farmers in this country has been cut in half. However during that

time the total farm output has more than doubled and output per farm has quadrupled. The main factor behind these trends is of course technology. Today's mechanized farmer is able to far exceed the productivity of the horse and plow days these rapid changes have taken place within the lifetimes of many of today's farmers. You are the lucky. First when you wait out your horse very tender just. Same as your body if you go out and play sports you know the story of us a little bit. Same way with your horses you had to break them in slow. Got in through the field and set out with a little. Back crossed played a little moan better along the top a little. In the middle has work. Several days you could begin to push him a little harder you know. Why a three horse team. A few proud a day and a half out of nature and a half in a day. He's doing pretty good till you got toughened up pretty a bit and maybe a good team with

two to eight years. And they're not equipped to do. They classify six acres in one hour with the big tractor. Well the labor may have been harder. The economics was much simpler. For like say them people didn't handle much money but they got home and I don't know if they're doing much better net today or they do to get done. This. They handle lots of money but they don't have much left to get done. Today. Farmers do handle a lot of money so much the farm costs are prohibitive for some. I like very much to. For my children to have that far. To the price of things I don't see how kids can buy a farm. You can't make the effort still. The last larger father. Your first cause you.

Sort of committed by. It was just the. Equivalent. To about. Two hours. Just to get. A distributor. You can't go out and buy a day's Harvester. For a small farm. It just means no vision at all and it will pay off. Well. I don't know what some of the smaller ones are Barno my my one voice. Eighty dollars for us but the smallest self-propelled yet.

This. Morning five or six years ago. In. But you know I talked to man this winter it stands for 2000 for a big outfit. When you can't even the small ones the way I understand now is running up close to 20. Well you can't do that for for 30 acres of grain a year. You see. Even pay $10 an acre. You're a lot better off and on your own. And you've got to. Got to get big to be able to devise machine you know. The need for farmers to expand and the ability to do so have drastically affected the science of farming. Far away are they. From very very. Safe.

More Turks. Are. Preparing. For. This. Yes. Thank you. It's just a different year in order to produce the volume necessary to compete in today's markets. The farmer must invest great sums of money in seed fertilizer fuel pesticides herbicides and especially on land and equipment. The agribusiness Accountability Project reports that since 1950 to farm costs have

risen one hundred twenty two percent. This money is obviously not readily available to most farmers mean that they have to borrow heavily. All of. Which are fixed. Her record production credits. Were gone for some. Folks are just very. Very rare.

You're never. Going to. Be just. Read it all till then that day and and they lead him through the land and the merchant man and gets it all the news and then never read them and then feeds them in dirty work Turkey.

Good fold up the whole look and I know you will agree that the facts are feeds us. It was still close and the lead into the land and the merchant. And the farmer will tell you the farming is a huge gamble. There are the traditional weather hazards such as drought and flooding but there is a more recent danger that doesn't involve the weather is the gamble the marketplace. A farmer operating thousands of dollars in debt relies on being able to recover the investment when the time comes to market its products. And it doesn't always work out that way.

You've got a lot of people that two years been better off. And a great set in. And they didn't get anything for it labor degraded they just missed it. First it was you know. Your two year to go OK it was up to. Get baby care it was bringing to $75. In the last year the way it turned out you can argue away it. Is not a return you get a percent return. Is very small for the amount of money invested but if. There are very few businesses that will. Go into the new venture without being pretty well sure that they can amortize their investment around 10 percent. Here we are right now for the nation's food supply 3 percent. Why.

Well I would put in better return on this. You still wouldn't know what we enjoy doing it. Makes us look for silly. Farm prices fluctuate sometimes quite rapidly. And a farmer works all season without really knowing what his efforts will bring him. These economic uncertainties have obviously accounted for many of the three million farms that have disappeared since 1940. Most of the slack has been taken up by the successful farms which have been able to expand because of increased technology. There has also been an introduction of corporations into farming a situation that is not welcome by most farmers. No. This is.

The first. Time I think. Farmers have resisted. Maybe not. An Iraqi resistance maybe it's been more or less passed to. The fact minister vested it. And say it. PETA Lysaght the disease problem. You can't hire someone off take that. Kind of loving care stop it. Happening. Although now are such a scientific state that most of those problems are solved. It's becoming normal or. A real possibility. There's laws now being put through cars to keep. Livestock from owning. Other words completely controlling their their supply and. What they sell. The process. Which comes form.

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Corporate farms at this time are primarily large grazing operations in the West. In Colorado for example 70 percent of farm land is owned by corporations. But overall corporations are a long way from taking over farming itself. But they do extend tight control over the economic life of farmers. For the most part the buyers of agricultural commodities are large national corporations. While there are over 32000 food processing companies the 50 largest account for over 60 percent of the profits. But this controlled by a few corporations is even more striking when broken down into individual food lines. There's an economic expression called a tight oligarch plea which occurs when four corporations control over 50 percent of any market. The title of GA planes already exist in breakfast cereals bread and prepared flour baking fluid milk dairy products processed meat canned goods sugar and suet. Well one company produces 90 percent of the market.

Some agribusiness corporations have engaged in vertical integration giving them a hand in nearly every aspect of Agriculture Tenneco for example grows packages markets and retail food. In addition to manufacturing farm machinery chemicals fuel and food containers. The reliance on prices paid by the buyers has caused a reaction on the part of many farmers. But we just can't afford it or for a stock. Like. We farmers do want to keep control. If we were at your farm it's our way of life. If we want to fuck you I was really a deficit idea that if you just work hard work yourself at any monetary situation that was the key to everything. Sure. As I got older and older.

And did everything I could that it just didn't work. So I knew something else had to be answered. So I started looking around. And I didn't like the idea of an organisation that could control the food because I think we're all we have an inborn sense of greed. And I was afraid that if we get Parker and I say we anyone control who we get part of that then we would really take it out on the rest of the society. But then I found in Africa were were they can legally ask for more than parity price. I thought this was fair reading and I would not be a member they could work for that. Even though I'm very bitter about having to support the rest of country. I'm very bitter about that. But still to this right I just bought

books for me. And also learned there is no true competition in the market. Not on. One grain company runs out of grain a good another so they don't have to raise the price to get far. These farmers are members of the National Farmers organization a relatively new farm group which is taking an active approach to the problems of farm prices. Tom Conrad is one of benefit those national directors. Everybody else see the effect or it's just that the wholesaler gets his car salesman right on back down to sell to stuff the day they get their cut. Is there anything unless we get physical profit let's say we don't have AC. So what we do you feel the ferocity and you're still it ok it costs this much produce this much produce grain or. This is the price.

And do it later. You gotta do. Is get and the farmers get are blocking what we call blocking enough for actually gather. The forces they can't get anywhere else. A lot of people don't like this force but we're all under pressure so you Professor system is what makes our old economy work. We're all under pressures. But we've got to get a block together so that the cattle are out so they can't get. Anywhere else. Not if they have to come to the US at least get part of it see it when they come to us and we cry. One of the problems farmers face is that nationwide companies who buy most of their products can simply go elsewhere to buy their prices are met in an attempt to counteract this benefit was devised the collection this passive delivery system explained here by county coordinators. Floyd why were they wrong. It's. The whole the whole process and hand.

In the cage and grain of the five major companies say 60 days. 70 percent of the five majors come the same way it's about the same way as me. And what the world Little Farmer out here that only farms maybe. Maybe you think the big pharmas 2008 was easy just peanuts. And there was nothing. In the market that was providing any competition. Because believe it or not these companies do not compete. They divide their territory they take what's here this guy takes what's fair and they very sellable ruin anyone else's unless some outside force from the city and. Makes it impossible for them to get enough and then they will and they start on each other's toes and that's that's competition. That was our goal. How did you view because. While riding a wave I think one one real good example

is that companies have. In agriculture production have always used low price there is to. Beat down the price you know other words you got what era to say serve us or lack of demand that something like this and the price lowers and they tell another area where we can buy it or we are going to shifting sheep the whole wheat and what we have to pay you so this this tends to break down the price. In the area that perhaps is not too bad. Turn that around. So they can't just take too much. Work. So they were just. Taking grain or were left off of a localized area or find much if I want to look at a higher price but we would have a low priced area but it's very. But doing this we can stairstep

prices up that. Kind of corn in the fall here in latter part of August. Most years. And maybe only maybe only a train. 10 15 20 cars or maybe a bar of those all ever gets here to Cincinnati. But the the threat of that corn coming up and the way the buyers play that again I don't blame them I would think that something like so high as it can or some minor one buys cheap they can. Reach our mark. But we use this in reverse. If there's a surplus of corn and here we ship it out take it over sea rather than bring it back into another area that is about ready to harvest. Really the the the. This correct dispassion delivery system is working in reverse what the virus of you for years and years and years the buyers

of course can counteract this. Well we've had a holding action or mood gain or they've done this to counteract it. A good look were just a little move step in the lower prices. Time they don't have to just thread a movie take a break practice. Really get a low price here and I packed here nice fellows don't want to take less than what they will price. They'll say well we could buy or sell it. And never buy a single core will never buy a beautiful green from here but the threat of this and it's fact they could but they don't have to put it. We don't control the production to say or would say OK you must pay that. So you know we have that first step some point it will come.

So one of the corporations move around to buy the farmers move around to sell. Right now the corporations hold the advantage. They are well organized and have been employing these practices for years and a photo represents a distinct minority of farm production. They have had some successes. You take in Maine. It's a large area. Well I don't but in the United States and they should while. They were getting 18 you didn't phrase. Well we started with and some I live very seldom remember to check the consumer you know. Well you said maybe you need more. Expensive. 50 cents I guess. For 40 cents a minute let's get away from him you said you could pay

45. But then a phone has plans to go beyond collection dispassion delivery and local direct sales and if it is to block 30 percent of farm production nationwide and to use this levers to bring their price. But the idea that we feel that. We can. Get 30 percent of the nation's food production going to your question to specs in blue is. That we can. Control the market. This means that we cannot legally ask for more than a fair profit fair price versus a reasonable profit. This is right in the capital city. So it's not something for. A consumer to particularly fear. Now we don't want to pay someone a fair price and he should fear this but if he can stand a fair price he needn't fear an extreme high price gouging prices.

In the past as people said will take 50 percent some say it takes 90 percent. Well we feel that if we get 30 percent of the production. So many that we can control the price. And really what's going to happen. What will you do. For an old media. Center all establish this fair price. And then there's the processors and of course the result of consumers who are going to shelve this. Can reach this point. There will certainly be in a powerful position. But 30 percent represents a lot of production and also a lot of farms it is a difficult task to organize traditionally independent farmers. And if organizers have had some problems in recruiting and the true believer sometimes cannot understand the reluctance they need. We can convince. Most businessman.

So. If you want to help you. Feel. Better. I don't know. Well every of us cross the farmers a lot don't understand. Basic farmer himself a shit like we're all selfish beings. And. A lot of well oh wait. And if something you know to push your prices and sell pictures say kill. Us. If we get to for a set period and thereby start deafening the Marxian But if you rest every block of production for it to come that. The farmers if they just. They just understand it. And I like it. Bill is. Where you do hear

people talk about. The old. Farmer. But is. Just. Well you just don't think. You can stand south. Raise crops to graze live. You can produce nothing to do. But when you go to cells next to. This that's where the problem is we don't we don't need anything else a lot of protection we've got the best to get the best see the best see. We're not in trouble here when we go to Ferguson. But when we were in trouble is when we sell it for a price. That we can't pay. For our inputs and then I have something left.

Howard Brock and Ralph there are two farmers who are not interested in joining and I thought. Here. I just can't take this her approach to. Process. So tempted to just force the process. And as a result of this. Technique. To stay.

Together. For her for her for. The reserves. I don't think much. I don't have a thing for any type of union really. Then I got in my head that half of what's wrong with. The union to say there wasn't a time I didn't. The laboring men didn't need help but they went so far overboard in the way that it did it. Did just tear carried away. I can't see paying somebody to tell me how to run a business. Yeah and that's what it adds up to me. I understand some of them paid as much as 75 dollars a year.

If you didn't know and therefore. What good to do and I can't see that really did him any good. Some of the killed pig some of them don't know they never got I think back except to make up for. This like anybody else that strikes. Cost of living goes up soon you get to raise the nerve all the others around a little cup know around they get it crackin striken to get around to the fur. First guy better. And the photos also had an image problem outside the farm community. Many people have heard of the organization because of publicity about soothing animals or dumping milk. He Doing what can you can even get a newsman. To do demeanor was like you had to spill blood. And what all right do you have a spill of all that suggested for slaughter. Begin with a blank CD. Rather the way some groups are built but of other people and

ruin other people's property. This was our own with somebody else. This is why it has been a lot of people thought well they're trying to do that. Take those cattle off the market. Not on the map that we shot barriers in significant part of the market. But when people realized that farmers around here shooting in destroying the only thing but which take game their livelihood then they said it took notice and war plan to be there. They must be crazy. Some people well maybe there's a reason behind this and they start looking into it and the more people you get to look into stuff like that the more people might understand. And. Finally someone her children

far was a soldier and I don't have my uniforms my. Little Lamb the last family home. Oh I don't like no one ever taught. We are worker. Finders uniforms. As well here. You give any man slave you can lay me down over. Here to stay

here on Earth. A common fear of consumers is that retail food prices will rise and farm prices are forced up. I've experienced this for 50 years. Whenever there's a price change in the milk business been. Moved more about that any. But always in the spring of the year the said get grass out will cost much produces it put it down to the farmer. And to never put it down to the consumer. Well then the following year. Farmer had to start feeding his cows more boughten Phaeton is a maid and everything will cost him more to litter the cows put the milk up to

the fire let it put it up to the consumer. Next thing next train Same old story we put down the fire to never put down the consumer it just kept getting a bigger spread. Every year and every year I saw it for 50 years. Every year the spread gets bigger. Between the produce in the consumer. To turn it's working that way on just about all. Foreign products. There's somebody in between if you get more than. One the producer gets. Because the most are the things that consumers. Use of foreign products. The farmer gets WAY less than half of what it cost. To consume. People say well yes a farmer gets increased price for the price goes up. Well we have our price up her heart is one time. And the price getting them down for

making them. So now why. Should you say that. Good price and have to go up the fire and come back and. I'll guarantee you. Well. Bill and I have to. But one thing. The farmer's price of practical matter are all going to go on. As long as we've got a good stable farm economy our whole economy is doing good. Or does a new dollar come from. You don't manufacture. Well. It comes out of the earth it is quickly it comes out here in agriculture products food fiber our minerals or oil. Search. Now. When the farmer gets paid. He spent them money. He keeps a turnover. If the farmer was getting a decent price right now. I mean my employment if we get it they will price something we look forward to.

We've heard you know reform reform to. Help you know you go through the. Farm. Yard falling down on me in. The houses and hearing what I mean then when farmers are making money they spend money. She keeps telling me turn moving. So. I don't I don't think that the farmer getting or what with the consumer it will help. You take. There's only right now $3. A $3 billion a year. That is only three cents. Worth of people. Going into that leverage. While.

It's immature. But I bet you. Even if you want to bet that if we hear. All of farm products if we if we just give them away. Food prices might come down a little bit stark but I bet you fix was the right thing. I could tell the difference. It's really immaterial what the. Girlfriend. Let's suppose. A gentle sort of way with a radar crisis what say you. To get a ferry. This may or may not be true but. That doesn't mean the price of food asked for saying. It well that may mean that it might go up 100 percent but it doesn't have to. Another words your distribution your labor your truck when you cross a and so forth they're all making a profit in there now just because the price of the rock. Goes up 50

percent doesn't mean that the end price for the retail price has the same. Everything. Everything we picked for said maybe maybe the end product would only have to go up maybe 5 or 10. But what happened in reality so many times did you see in the paper price. Great so like 400. On the far. Bank. Lo and behold it goes up 10 times that record. Of it. Will you give to. Someone. Else. An idea of the amount of increase farmers stand to gain if any first successful can be extracted from the comparison of current prices with parity levels parity prices are set by the government and we flock with an F-0 cause cost of production plus a reasonable profit. And if those forbidden by law from demanding more than

parity. According to you part of the agriculture is June price reports. Wheat is currently bringing 64 percent of parity corn 88 percent cotton 47 percent milk 75 percent. All beef cattle 69 percent tabs 44 percent and hogs 99 percent. According to NFL as president or at least daily his organization has been harassed by every government agency that could find an excuse. And if those included on the Nixon enemies list and recently the Securities and Exchange Commission unsuccessfully attempted to take the NFL into receivership and if it sees these as examples of the government reacting to the pressures of corporations which feel threatened by NFA. There seems to be more involved here than farm prices alone. We are in an age when there is considerable concern about the availability and distribution of resources and there is no resource more important to anyone in food. Unlike many other resources which are declining irretrievably food production is regenerative and the possibility does exist of supplying enough food for the people of the world.

But there is a question of who will control the food in this country. Large corporations have taken over every segment of the industrial and retail economy and they dominate most segments of the agricultural economy. But they are not yet in direct control of farming itself. So the National Farmers organization has taken on the task of organizing enough of the nation's farm production to put control of the food supply in the hands of small farmers. It is difficult to predict their chances for success. They are facing a formidable opponent and the American corporate structure. The future of family farming in America may well be at stake. Farmers could emerge as a powerful force but they could also end up as cogs in a system of corporate agriculture. And there are a lot of big corporation. International corporate jets are only morals is making a profit. They have no allegiance whatsoever of what's right what's wrong to God to cut through anything

else just to make profits and I think the real danger. For us to leave our supply of food in the hands of completely in the hands of this type of structure. Because you don't want to go that very long I show you. You just did. And I can't go a good a good. Example This is your own company. And the oil situation. You think you paint through the nose for gasoline. Oh are we paying for food they throw all the food. They claim which I'm kind of proud of that means you fight for what you believe and. I'm sure you say will you say so but I think. I think it has a. Pretty good moral to look so for some of the leadership. So boy.

I think we. Yeah. How like we were there. You know you can have. More. Government right. Keith. I am. I am I

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