Re: 25% of Nebraska farmers biting dust this year

Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Tue, 22 Sep 1998 18:19:16 -0500

The USDA small farm commission report entitled a Time To Act has some very
good Long Term suggestions. The problem with most government solutions are
they are short term answers. A couple hundred thousand letters suggesting
the implementation of the commission report like the proposed organic rule
received might get the "peoples" administration aimed back at supporting
family farms. Otherwise we should recommend the USDA changes its name to
what it truly stands for--United States Department of Agribusiness!
Best wishes,
Greg Gunthorp
Small Farm Commission member
Pasture Hog Farmer, LaGrange IN
-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Sooby <phrc031@unlvm.unl.edu>
To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu <sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 3:55 PM
Subject: 25% of Nebraska farmers biting dust this year

>Hello, all--
>
>the proportions of this year's farm crisis are dramatic. In Nebraska,
>bankers are estimating that 25% of their farm customers will go out of
>business this year. This is another huge loss from rural communities,
>another turn of the wheel toward corporate ownership and large-scale
>consolidation of the food system. What are we doing about it? Where is
>sustainable ag's response?
>
>In my job, things are business as usual. We (in ag research) have the
luxury
>of farming without having to show a profit. There is little sense of
>urgency. Now is the time when Monsanto and ADM and Cargill are reaping the
>profits generated by those who are losing their farms. So what are we going
>to do about it besides sympathizing with those losing all they've worked
for?
>
>Jane Sooby
>
>University of Nebraska-Lincoln alternative crops research technician
>Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society western organizer
>
>High Plains Ag Lab
>3257 Rd. 109
>Sidney, NE 69162
>
>308-254-3918
>308-254-2402 (FAX)
>308-254-0725 (HOME)
>
>
>To Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with "unsubscribe sanet-mg".
>To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
>"subscribe sanet-mg-digest".
>

To Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with "unsubscribe sanet-mg".
To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
"subscribe sanet-mg-digest".