News: farmers killing themselves in staggering numbers

[CADplans]

I put that article in the "fake news" category,,

The article says that recently 60,000 farmers in India committed suicide due to climate change,,
First of all, climate change is mostly warming, which results in MORE crop produced per acre,,
the India farmers, if anything, would be celebrating climate change,, all the way to the bank, with the increased profit.

I doubt that there are 60,000 people in India that even care that climate change occurs,,,

I do not disagree with suicide rates of farmers in the USA,,

It is tough to change,, and each generation must find a new way to survive,,,

My grandfather (born in the late 1800's) thought it was crazy that I would dream of earning a living off of a farm,,,,

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have a 500 head dairy farm that borders my property and I buy there products, it's 20% more but I like the product and I like supporting local farms. Seems every year I drive by there they have a couple new 200hp articulating dueled up John Deere tractors there, they must get some kind of subsidy or grant or something, they cost a fortune not the mention the new harvesters, choppers etc that I see fairly new over there.

These guys have two Deere loaders that are bigger than my house, some of these farms get themselves in deep I believe. $4.25 a gallon for milk plus they sell cream and all kinds of products, When I see some of these big farms crumble, some of it is there own doing.

I know of one farmer who buys his equipment off lease. His implements look like they are new but are bought at a considerable difference from new. You would not know how farmers are suffering when you go shopping. Me thinks that there are people in the middle being overpaid.

 

[Wagtail]

Just to let you know that this is not a uniquely USA problem.

Farmer/grazier suicide rates are a concern here in Aus (Tassie too) and, by extrapolation, everywhere. We're trying to address the problem with rural support programmes and simply 'looking out for your Mates'.

 

[radios1]

I think you missed his point
He's talking about the price the farmer is paid for his product, not the price you pay for the refined product at the store. Therein lies the problem.

then the stores are making a killer profit on milk, at the cost of putting farmers, and themselves out of business, no milk=none at the store=a loss for them!.. the farmers should get $2 a gallon, and the stores should make $1 a gallon on it.. I think that is the problem.. along with the crazy costs of running a farm, which should not be allowed.. People have to eat farm products, so WHY make them so expensive?.. is greed better than compassion now?..

 

[1010]

One word Regulations, from the water, seed, chemical, products grown, fuel, tractors with so much garbage for emissions, the break downs cost a fortune for a $10 sensor.
Just like other blue collar jobs, regulations are killing America, Americans.

We can't compete against Mexico and other countries.

 

[bunyip]

Just to let you know that this is not a uniquely USA problem.

Farmer/grazier suicide rates are a concern here in Aus (Tassie too) and, by extrapolation, everywhere. We're trying to address the problem with rural support programmes and simply 'looking out for your Mates'.

Not helped by the banks who hover like vultures when things get a bit difficult, lots of profitability in foreclosures according to one report I saw, unfortunately I cannot recall the programme but it was probably our ABC's Landline or similar.
So much for the banks putting people before profit.
As for milk, we get supermarket brands cheaper than the others then a 'farmers' milk hit the market at a higher price, very cleverly worded suggesting that the higher price means more money for the farmers, owned by the supermarkets and the farmer still gets the same price.
The dairy companies have a monopoly on milk prices and recently made a retrospective price reduction in what they will pay, this meant that some dairy farmers owed the dairy company and they wonder why so many dairy farmers are just giving it away.

 

[bcp]

I've always heard farming is the only industry that buys at retail prices and sells at wholesale prices.

Bruce

 

[Wagtail]

It was on the news last night that the banks are being questioned on their treatment of farmers during the Royal Commission. (ANZ was in the docket, if I recall)

The dairy companies have a monopoly on milk prices and recently made a retrospective price reduction in what they will pay, this meant that some dairy farmers owed the dairy company and they wonder why so many dairy farmers are just giving it away.

As to the Milk Processors (Fonterra and, now, Saputo), they took a hit a couple of years ago due to the two big supermarket chains (Woolies & Coles) having a price war. Things have improved and the new industry player (Saputo; a Canadian mob) announced last week "it will pay farmers A$5.75 a kilogram of milk solids when the new season gets underway." (1 July 18). Fonterra announced "an opening price of A$5.85kg/MS." <source: Tasmanian Country, 22 June 18>

So things are looking up for the 'local' dairy farmer. Quite a number have switched/bred for the A2 market too.

 

[mjarrels]

Dairy farmers sell milk by the hundred weight, not by the gallon.

mark

 

[radios1]

Dairy farmers sell milk by the hundred weight, not by the gallon.

mark

Australia apparently does things differently than the U.S.A. it's a different Country!..