America Needs Farms

We in America would benefit from the return of farms and the farmer. We have had so much land taken from farmers and crops turned over to other countries that it has hurt our country.

There was a time when farming was one of the most noble professions in this country. We appreciated the hard work done by farmers to grow crops and raise livestock. We paid attention to the weather and hoped for no summer drought so that crops could grow. We knew that our country could sustain itself through the resources that we have.

There were Agriculture classes taught in rural areas with many young boys signed up for them. If their school did not have an agriculture program, the boys would go to one that did. Many did not have to take a class as their fathers were more than willing to teach them.

The benefits we got from this were many.

If one lived in a rural community and farmed their land, there was food on the table. We had to work to raise our food, but in the end it was worth it. We knew that what we were getting was fresh and had no outside chemicals. The word organic did not exist. And our food was as organic as it gets.

The farmers shared their food. Some farmers sold what they raised (always cheaper than the stores). Some farmers simply gave it away to friends and relatives. Either way it helped save others money on groceries. Stores knew that they had competition which led to competitive pricing.

The big farmers raised their crops to feed our nation and others. And thanks to low paid migrant workers (a black mark on our country) they were very successful at it. They provided food for the big chain grocery stores. They also had their goods exported to countries that needed it. This is still the case, but the America of today does not give the farmer opportunities they once had.

Another thing that farmers and our farms did was keep things clean. Farmers were so good at landscaping that no one needed outsiders to do it. Every plot of land was in order. Orchids were in the right place. Fields were square and level. The barns were sturdy and maintained with care. It was a beautiful landscape.

And those who lived in rural areas knew how to handle the weather. In summer we knew how to handle heat. In the winter snowstorms did not stop us for long, because everyone had their own tractors and could dig their way out. This was a side benefit of farming.

All of this helped communities and our country to sustain ourselves. It was an America where we were the producers and were in charge. Farming helped make us such.

Now, farming is dying. We are a country of consumers instead of producers. Land once used to help sustain America through farming has become housing plots to make the rich richer.

We have all suffered by the disappearance of farming whether we know it or not.