Article From Reuter's: Rent walkouts point to strains in U.S. farm economy

[ovrszd]

Corn syrup and sugar, it's everywhere. It's not good for people to eat all that sugar. If you read ingredient labels, corn syrup/sweetener shows up in the darnedest places, like canned pizza sauce.

Nitrogen filled fresh meat packages such as ground beef, pork and turkey, never looks rotten even when it is.

Caramel coloring a potential carcinogen:
Popular soda ingredient, caramel color, poses cancer risk to consumers -- ScienceDaily

Highly processed foods lead to food addiction and obesity:
Want pizza, chocolate, French fries? Highly processed foods linked to addictive eating -- ScienceDaily

I'm going with Steve on this one. You choose to buy all of the products you referenced above. Those products are not forced on you.

 

[dave1949]

I'm going with Steve on this one. You choose to buy all of the products you referenced above. Those products are not forced on you.

It's not about what I choose; I actually avoid those foods. The question is why are those foods made to begin with if they are not healthy? You noted the addictive angle?

 

[ovrszd]

It's not about what I choose; I actually avoid those foods. The question is why are those foods made to begin with if they are not healthy? You noted the addictive angle?

Supply and demand my friend. First thing that must be understood in economics.

 

[dave1949]

Supply and demand my friend. First thing that must be understood in economics.

No doubt, but at the same time it's hard to argue that food quality has not declined while feeding the sugar/fat/salt habit of millions.

Why do people eat junk food? Because it's there and it is chemically altered to please your palette leaving you wanting more. Why is junk food sold? Because people buy it. That's a very tight circle with no mention of nutritional quality. I expect it is reasonably profitable however.

What about people with actual busy lives and demands on their time, not retirees gabbing. They may reasonably assume foods wouldn't be sold if it was 'bad' for them or their family. You can say they should alter their priorities or whatever, but ...

I'm no saint when it comes to eating, so don't take this as a holier than thou thing.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I'm going with Steve on this one. You choose to buy all of the products you referenced above. Those products are not forced on you.

When food becomes addictive, such as processed fats, sugars, and salts, then we have moved away from choice.

 

[MikePA]

When food becomes addictive, such as processed fats, sugars, and salts, then we have moved away from choice.

Who or what has determined foods containing processed fat, sugars and salts are addictive?

 

[ovrszd]

No doubt, but at the same time it's hard to argue that food quality has not declined while feeding the sugar/fat/salt habit of millions.

Why do people eat junk food? Because it's there and it is chemically altered to please your palette leaving you wanting more. Why is junk food sold? Because people buy it. That's a very tight circle with no mention of nutritional quality. I expect it is reasonably profitable however.

What about people with actual busy lives and demands on their time, not retirees gabbing. They may reasonably assume foods wouldn't be sold if it was 'bad' for them or their family. You can say they should alter their priorities or whatever, but ...

I'm no saint when it comes to eating, so don't take this as a holier than thou thing.

I don't know why people do what they do. No one knows that. I drink Beer. Someone else might smoke. Someone else might eat McDonald's. Someone else, like you, might have a different vice that the others wouldn't even consider. :confused3:

 

[ovrszd]

When food becomes addictive, such as processed fats, sugars, and salts, then we have moved away from choice.

Eric, I normally stand by you. Not sure where this came from?? Cigarettes are addictive but the smoker still has a choice. I smoked for ten years of my early life, then I quit. Did I have a choice?? Of course I did. As I said to Dave, I drink Beer. Do I have a choice?? Of course I do. There is nothing marketed today that's harmful to your health you do not have a choice about consuming. If you think different, please give me an example?

 

[HybridVigor]

Who or what has determined foods containing processed fat, sugars and salts are addictive?

From my observations nothing is more capricious than nutritional science! First eggs and whole milk are out, now it's back in. Put butter in your coffee! Ha!

To the original article:

Unfortunately, it only takes one or two farmers in a neighborhood to make cash rent prices out of whack. If they think they can make money at $350 an acre in rent then the market moves that direction whether the other farmers agree or not. It's a difficult decision to decide to let acres go especially in an area where land is tight. I know many folks who have matched bids from other guys to keep ground and lost a lot of sleep over it. That said, for a lot of growers, the right decision was to walk away from those rent prices and I think they're better positioned now. Now that grain prices are down the issue will solve itself as more farms are put up for rent bid.

As for whether or not farmers and landowners have different or better attitudes about land management, I find it's more about attitude and education than who actually owns it. I work with some growers who I don't think manage for the best sustainability even on their home farms they own. Fortunately they're a small minority. I know many landowners who rent their ground but demand that their tenants do things like no-till and maintain proper fertility because they get that in the long run its a win win for them and the farmer.

 

[ovrszd]

From my observations nothing is more capricious than nutritional science! First eggs and whole milk are out, now it's back in. Put butter in your coffee! Ha!

To the original article:

Unfortunately, it only takes one or two farmers in a neighborhood to make cash rent prices out of whack. If they think they can make money at $350 an acre in rent then the market moves that direction whether the other farmers agree or not. It's a difficult decision to decide to let acres go especially in an area where land is tight. I know many folks who have matched bids from other guys to keep ground and lost a lot of sleep over it. That said, for a lot of growers, the right decision was to walk away from those rent prices and I think they're better positioned now. Now that grain prices are down the issue will solve itself as more farms are put up for rent bid.

As for whether or not farmers and landowners have different or better attitudes about land management, I find it's more about attitude and education than who actually owns it. I work with some growers who I don't think manage for the best sustainability even on their home farms they own. Fortunately they're a small minority. I know many landowners who rent their ground but demand that their tenants do things like no-till and maintain proper fertility because they get that in the long run its a win win for them and the farmer.

Missouri just implemented some new regulations concerning farm sign-up. Landowners had to make some serious choices that would affect their productive land for a long time in the future. I went to my friend, the large farmer, who's Son rents my tillable and asked what should I do? He said "I have no idea, we've hired a lawyer to read thru it for us, farm by farm, we'll let you know what the outcome is". They called me last week and guided me as to signing up my farm. As I said earlier, I'm very fortunate and blessed to have a renter that is concerned about my farm's future as I am.

And yes, here there has been severe competition for rentable farm land. That has pushed prices to a dangerous high. But in the end, Mother Nature and the markets will "right" the ship.