Future of Family Farming a Moral IssueMinutemanmedia
by George Naylor
Now that the election of 2004 is history, voters must face some important questions. Will our political system take time, amid political fund raising and heated rhetoric on cultural issues, to focus on the plight of family farms and rural communities? Will Wall Street be the only winner, as indicated in a recent Associated Press article?
If elections turn on personalities and cultural issues like these of 2004, the future of family farming and rural prosperity must turn on voters' attention to their elected officials. Benign neglect or policy that benefits giant multinational agribusiness corporations will mean rural America is relegated to being the home of private hunting preserves or factory farms. These offer unhealthful and low-paying jobs along with polluted streams and a stench that literally takes your breath away. Gone will be diversified farming where livestock is raised with fresh air and room to roam. Gone will be crop rotations that benefit the environment and provide economic opportunities throughout the year. Gone will be the rural communities of mutual support… and investment in local schools and county hospitals. Election rhetoric and crazy TV ads may get people elected, but what are we electing people to do, and will their performance matter in future elections?
The economic footing of family farming has been so neglected that 70 percent of farms earn less than 25 percent of their household income from the farm. Less than 2 percent of rural residents earn their primary income from the farm. Farmland in many regions is worth much more for hunting preserves and development than for producing healthy local supplies of food….Isn't the future of family farming a moral issue, too?
Family farming can be the engine for growth and economic opportunity if voters focus on the issues that assure fair returns to family farmers, widespread ownership of farms, and the promotion of free and open markets not dominated by multinational corporations. If voters tell our elected officials to write a new farm bill that restores price floors under basic commodities, renews opportunities for farm ownership and local markets, and halts free trade agreements that hurt our farmers and those in other countries, America will deserve the respect of people all around the world and of future generations. The 2004 elections are over; it's time for action!
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George Naylor is a corn and soybean farmer from Churdan, Iowa, a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and President of the National Family Farm Coalition. The National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) was founded in 1986 to serve as a national link for grassroots organizations working on family farm issues.
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