https://civileats.com/2023/12/14/op-ed-beginning-farmers-are-at-a-crossroads-heres-how-the-next-farm-bill-can-help/ Daily News and Commentary About the American Food System Fri, 22 Dec 2023 12:08:23 +0000 hourly 1 https://civileats.com/2023/12/14/op-ed-beginning-farmers-are-at-a-crossroads-heres-how-the-next-farm-bill-can-help/#comment-309428 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 12:08:23 +0000 https://civileats.com/?p=54670#comment-309428 Dealing with Farm bill at hand, The Farm and Ranch communities need to look at the laws that certain EU countries have passed.
Portugal has passed a law where the farmer has a bottom price for his or her product.
It is base on production cost of the product grown or raised then a percentage is add to insure the farmer is making a fair wage to sustain his or her livelihood.
In the USA, the cost of inputs and labor are forcing small and medium farms out of business.
The prices of vegetables and fruits are the same as 50 to 60 years ago.
The large grocery store chains do not wish to purchase regional product demand a 365 day supplier which in turn means international farmer/growers to supply them.
The up coming H2A program will see a increase in labor cost . There is no farm can pay this hourly rate 14.66 and pick 6.00 per 1/2 bushel and survive.
My opinion is in 10 years there will be no hand picked vegetables or fruits in the USA.
As stated by the USDA , there are a numerous programs for beginning farmers and ranchers but if there is no profit they will fail.
The EU countries have recognized that farmers and ranchers are sending their children to college and trade schools so that they can make decent wage.
If the USA doesn’t step up and protect the Farmer and rancher we will become reliant on other countries for our food.
Year 2022 was the first time the USA imported more food than exported .
We are on a down hill slide .
Shad

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