Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was my understanding that when a small family farmer "goes under" what is really happening is that a larger agro-corporation is buying them up and then re-employing them again (since cows can't be milked by corporations; it needs to be done by people). The corporation provides a benefit in terms of being able to secure cheaper inputs (e.g., machinery, fertilizer, seed) and internalizes some of the risk. It would seem to be a pretty good proposition.

The key question (from above) to ask the folks running farm aid is who works the farm after the family is bought out?

And if you make the argument that it is commercial real estate that is buying up the land, this likely means that there is a high urban/suburban demand for the land which is likely bidding up the price.

While there may be examples of some "mom and pop" farmers up on hard times, it seems to me that the "family farm crisis" has been exaggerated a bit.

People will tell you you're being mean to say that, John. But it's long seemed to me that "family farmers" want special priviledges that "familiy mechanics" and "family tailors" and so on aren't allowed to receive.

Look, man, you're either making money doing what you're doing or you need to do something else. Harsh? Hey, I've lived with it my whole life, and no one's made me any benefit records or concerts.

Although, if anyone wants to host a major country music festival called "Dean-Aid" I'm all for it and will definitely commmit to showing up. As long as no one thinks it's for Howard Dean. Dean Esmay is the only true Dean--accept no substitutes!

I would correct you John, but you aren't wrong.

...and I've been called mean for lesser things! :-) (You really need some of those yellow smily icons.)

...and I guess it always amazed me with these "family farmer stories" that were big in the mid-1980s. I always thought to myself... who runs these farms when the farmers get bought out? Robots?

For some reason, reality strikes me as hilarious. It might also possibily be the basis for a future anti-drug campaign: "Kids, don't snort coke, or you might grow up being governed by a C-average evangelical cowboy."

Just stumbled across this blog while doing some research and had to comment that the problem with family farms going corporate and support for family farms is that you are talking about a nation's food supply.

I can not imagine wanting the county's food supply owned by corporate monopolies. That would be really stupid.

Sarah,

Of course, corporate ownership does not necessarily mean monopolies. And in terms of food supply, coporate farmers are better at feeding us, in fact.

S