Grange Leader Calls for More, Not Less Farming

National Grange ^ | Nov. 12, 2001 | Richard Weiss

[farmfriend]

"A New Century, A New Grange"

[farmfriend]

indexing

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[anniegetyourgun]

My farmfriend bump goes here!

[farmfriend]

Ping.

[First_Salute]

The next liberal admin. of the gov't, combined with the vast environmental conspiracy, will, over the next 15 years, buy up farmland like crazy, in the name of "doing something about it."

"It," being the panic which the Clintonistas will stir up, about a new world wide famine ... and the "need" for nationalizing farmland in order to bid the acerage out to "food maintenance organizations."

Under whatever legislation which will be enacted --- and in the large print appearing to be pro-private farms --- will be furtherance of C.A.R.A., etc.

The Grange must take its case to the people, not to the government.

While the Congress would love to "give" broadband to the countryside, in exchange for votes and land.

[farmfriend]

The Grange must take its case to the people, not to the government.

I think posting this on FR falls into the "taking it to the people" catagory.

[DoughtyOne]

The farmers have my full support. Folks, the farmers are THE backbone of this nation. Don't know about you, but I like to eat. They work from sunup to sundown. It's a tough life. If they want it, we should make sure the environment is favorable to them.

[farmfriend]

Founded in 1867, the National Grange is this nation's oldest general farm and rural public interest organization. The National Grange currently represents approximately 300,000 members affiliated with 3,400 local, county and state Grange chapters across the nation.

Speaking to the 135th annual convention of the National Grange,

I call that "taking it to the people".

[Rudder]

Take it from one who lives in the heart of farm country. If we don't feed Americans--and no one else will--oil dependency will pale by comparison.

[dandelion]

BUMP for Family Farms!

[farmfriend]

I've met the Master and First Lady of the Ohio State Grange as well as the Legislative Director. All really nice people.

[DoughtyOne]

I hear you bud. I lived on a farm when I was a kid. If there is any entity in this nation which deserves support, it's the family farm. I'm behind you 1000%.

[christie]

Thanks farmfriend. Good report.

[tank_sherman]

Now that we have another rancher President, I think we can expect Grange issues to be taken off the back burner and given the positive exposure they so richly deserve. An extremely important part of our Afgan campaign is the humanitarian food aid we are providing from our great American farms.

P.S. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we haven't created a new market for American peanut butter!

[farmfriend]

Speaking of peanut butter, I saw some wrapped like sliced cheese. Lattest thing in peanut butter I'm told.

[Rudder]

I've met the Master and First Lady of the Ohio State Grange

I am sure they are nice folks. From what counties are they? Do you recall their names? (I ask because I may know of them from my involvement with 4-H and fair livestock judging.)

[Amerigomag]

A daunting task. Urbanization in central California is gobbling up the most productive farm land. Sprawl created by an unwillingness to control or manage our population growth.

Even in the heart of this still rural, conservative, farm country the faint hint of population management would be considered heresy. It is simply the God given, constitutional right of every American to plunk a house on two and a half acres and raise lawn.

The imposition of growth boundries by even a simple remedy of minimum parcel size is quickly circumvented by the corruption associated with housing development at the local, political level.

In central California incentives to hasten the increase in the number of farming operations is mute because the suburbanites are consuming the land.

[Carry_Okie]

Although we have a net positive balance of trade in agriculture, it is nearly all in feedstock grains and soy. After discounting cotton, tobacco and catfish (not food), our 1998 ag balance-of-trade was only $8 billion positive, with a $22 billion net positive balance in grain. That means that we were in a net $14 billion dollar trade deficit in consumable food, and its getting worse.

FYI Rudder, of that $14 billion, we import of $8 billion worth of fish and export $2 billion.

[Carry_Okie]

A daunting task. Urbanization in central California is gobbling up the most productive farm land. Sprawl created by an unwillingness to control or manage our population growth.

Not so. Sprawl is created by cheap land. Cheap land is created by depreciating the value of alternative uses, such as agriculture and forestry. That is largely done with regulatory costs. Environmentalists have become witless participants in an enormous real estate scam.