Farmers

 1. The farmer is an independent actor equal to all other men, in partnership with God, and self-sufficient.  2. Agriculture is the basic industry on which all progress and prosperity are based.  3. Agricultural life is natural and morally desirable while urban living produces an emphasis on the evils of leisure and materialism in place of hard work.

Farmer  Non-materialistic  Honest  Self-sufficient  Hard worker  2008 Census was 55.3 years of age  Decreased Income (RF)  13% Poverty level  High Debt Ratio  Family size (RF) – 2.3 children vs. 1.8 Urban

Farmers continued…  Part-time farmers Kentucky and Tennessee  Divorce Rates lower in Rural Farm areas  Husband Farms/wife work “public”  Wife works for insurance/health benefits

Farmers  US government defines farmers as - persons living in a rural territory on places which had or normally have sales of agricultural products of $1, or more in one year.

Values  Family  God  Animals  Crops  Land  Pride  Life itself  Owning land, equipment, house, etc.  Conservationist  Individualist

No Respect for Farmers  Grows crops  Livestock production  Yearly income from commodities  Devote time to the land  Sells crop and/or livestock for lively hood.  Long hours  Small profit

No Respect for Farmers cont…  Love what they do, “pride”  Moral values  Poor $  Tends the land  Contributes Life

Role of farmwife  1. Bookkeeping  2. Errands  3. Take care of house  4. Production – Reproduction  5. Raising children  6. Shoulder to lean on – supporter

Environment  Environmental regulations  Control supply and demand  Price support  20-30% farm incomes  KY – 42% Farm incomes from Gov Based subsidies

%ages of Subsidies  86% - Grain Farmers (KY)  49% - Beef Farmers (KY)  *23% - Dairy Farmers (KY)  *25% - Swine Farmers (KY)  * = Bush reduced subsidies by $325,000 for Kentucky in 2007

Government Roles  “Free Market”  $ - taxes property  Estate taxes – SSI Medicare  * Control prices  * Price support  * - Dairy and Tobacco subsidies program  Diversification

Children  Free labor  Workers  Respectful  Work habits

KY Major farm income  1. Horses  2. Poultry  3. Tobacco  4. Beef

KY income Rural areas  1. Meth  2. Marijuana  3. Migrant workers  (Most migrants are illegal – coyotes)  These are all non-taxed incomes

World Competition  Weak Dollar abroad  Inflation  Cash Flow  High Debt

Problems/Issues  Health  Farming is 3 rd most dangerous occupation  High rate – Skin cancer  High rate – Lung cancer  High levels of Stress  High rate – Drowning  High rate – Heart disease

Problems/Issues  Weather  Costs of products  Costs of chemicals  Prices  Consumer demand