As We Sow.....Çomments on the Videos.

Two videos have been linked to this site to give another perspective of the CAFO issues. They speak about the demise of the small farm. It is not hard to look around us and see that small farms are disappearing. The opinions expressed in the video seem to believe that the loss of the small farms is due to large corporations taking over the industry. I don't know how true that is.

Is it possible that CAFO's and small farms can exist together? Some of the voices say it would be difficult because corporations have the clout to bring down prices and that small farms can't compete. With the emergence of the interest in buying local small farms would fill that niche. Unfortunately we are seeing more government intervention which would make it harder for small farms to profit. I have recently read two different articles talking about the government wanting to regulate smaller farms and the small processors. What is the end result of all this. I don't know. What I do know is that people need to talk about this and bring some reasonable actions to the table.

Yesterday there was news coming out of the cities about some people getting sick from fresh milk. You can almost see the writing on the wall about that one. There will most likely be a push to ban the sale of that again. Funny how even the places that are already regulated has problems and you don't see anyone wanting to ban the sale of Ice cream, beef, lettuce or spinach. Even when some of those things were pasturized they still can get E coli. To me govt regulations isn't the answer, local accountability is.

I have a question, and I would not be surprised if no one at this point has the answer. As companies get bigger and more diverse and rich beyond our ability to comprehend their wealth, is it possible that the food processing industry is trying to take over the food sources? Who are all these corporate farms selling to, and who really owns them?
In recent years the pure food supply, local suppliers and organic food movement has begun to make great strides. Huge suppliers have responded by creating market products for that "niche" market. But I don't think it is in their best interest for the movement to grow. It's hard to be huge and local at the same time. Better for them to ship by rail over vast distances.
It just seems to me that the corporate farms cater nicely to the huge "cheap food" at any cost production companies. It doesn't seem that they would just roll over and go with the quality food supply flow. It certainly would be the logical way to kill the quality food movement.

Your instincts are correct Zorro, at least in part.
Vertical integration is creating a very difficult situation and making it hard for the small, independent farmer to stay in business.
Companies such as Monsanto are making it nearly impossible to grow certain crops that are not genetically engineered, ie; owned by them. They are even buying up the 'clean seed' supplies. it is all about control; whoever controls the food, will control the population.
But consumers are wising up, and pushing back.
I pay $2/doz for eggs from free-range hens fed organic/non gmo feed. The egg special in one of the stores recently was .69/doz. But when I consider how those hens are raised and what they are fed, i will spend less elsewhere to pay that $2.
I often make my own mozzarella cheese, but the other day I ran out. I called a friend who gave me some of her goat milk mozzarrella (fabulous, by the way). But I would have gone without, since there is no access to organic cheese nearby.
My adult kids are going the farmer market/csa route, even with growing families, they would rather cut corners in other places and make ethical food choices. And more and more of their friends are doing the same, even the college kids.
As far as the large corporations are concerned, I do not think that they are thinking in terms of ethics, but $$$. But the fact that they see a need to provide this food, shows that the interest is real, even among those who shop for their food in places such as walmart. It gives me hope for our future.

It seems, then, that the more we can do to support and expand the safe food supply. Maybe even buy some Whole Foods stock and look for other companies that are trying to head us in the right direction.

Why do I get visions of peasant farmers working the fields in Communist Russia when this subject is discussed. We need independent farmers working their farms and the people need to support them. One could consider the added cost health insurance. I have had my own garden before and know the work involved in just my little plot of dirt. For farmers to grow their produce it is hard work and they deserve the pay to reward them and give them incentive to continue doing their job.

The comments above are to the point. We need to be careful of the food industry cutting in and trying to get a piece of the pie. It amuses me that the fastest growing section of the large grocery chains is the "Health Food Department." Every time I go into one of the large chain grocery stores and look at that section that says "Health Food" I can't help but chuckle and think what does that sign say about the rest of the food in the store.