The Casino That Is Farming
I've taken to listening to the commodity report on Country Radio, which is sort of like the Racing Form for grain, pork and cattle. The folks talk about the price of the basic elements of stuff which we all end up buying in the grocery store. There is also a lot of talk about the weather, the Chinese economy, the strength of the U.S. dollar. Plant diseases and stuff like avian flu can also make farmers and traders worry from minute to minute. And if that isn't enough information the stuff we eat is also produced in South America, Europe and other places as well
Too much rain, too little rain, too hot or too cold, the dollar makes our grains more expensive for people overseas, and if the economy is weak we buy fewer steaks, drive less, the price of corn can go down and who knows next year how many acres of corn will be planted.
And that doesn't even include the price of oil which is an important factor in the cost of production of our food and I've heard it said that the price of hot dogs is an indicator of the price of hogs and oil.
Small family farms have gross cash, farm cash income of $350,000 or less.
Mid size family farms have gross cash, farm cash income of $350,000- $999,000.
Large family farms have gross cash, farm cash income of over $1,000,000.
This information is from USDA.
Family farms may also have members that work off the farm as well as on the farm in developing these income levels. Family farms are big business in rural areas.
About all I can say is that I appreciate the relatively small amount of money we spend on food and would like to thank the farming community for all their hard work making that possible.
Too much rain, too little rain, too hot or too cold, the dollar makes our grains more expensive for people overseas, and if the economy is weak we buy fewer steaks, drive less, the price of corn can go down and who knows next year how many acres of corn will be planted.
And that doesn't even include the price of oil which is an important factor in the cost of production of our food and I've heard it said that the price of hot dogs is an indicator of the price of hogs and oil.
Small family farms have gross cash, farm cash income of $350,000 or less.
Mid size family farms have gross cash, farm cash income of $350,000- $999,000.
Large family farms have gross cash, farm cash income of over $1,000,000.
This information is from USDA.
Family farms may also have members that work off the farm as well as on the farm in developing these income levels. Family farms are big business in rural areas.
About all I can say is that I appreciate the relatively small amount of money we spend on food and would like to thank the farming community for all their hard work making that possible.
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