Yesterday I took a bike ride with a friend out to one of the small rural towns about 20 miles from my city. We arrived at noon so decided to find someplace to grab a quick lunch and settled on a small pub. These four area farmers were seated close to us and were having a loud conversation about the current state of affairs. They expressed anger and frustration about their rising costs and the difficulty of selling their products. Two of them had large soybean crops and had to drop their prices so low they were at a break even point. They were not happy at all with the Trump tariffs. The rural areas of this state are very conservative and were largely responsible for Trump winning this State in the election. Based on what we heard, I don't think these farmers would vote the same way again.
Unhappy Farmers
LEICA D-Lux 8DC VARIO-SUMMILUX 1:1.7-2.8/10.9-34 ASPH. lens34mmf/2.81/10s400 ISO-0.3 EV
My wife is an addict of Doc Pol tv series. His practice serves many dairy farmers in rural Michigan as well as the general public. As a viewer I cannot begin to appreciate and understand how independent farmers manage to support themselves given the many financial risks involved and razor thin margins. Credit to them, their dedication, and grit.
Yes fantastic composition Brother!
I am surrounded by farmers and agriculture in many forms. I came from the fields of Iowa to a small country town in Mary-land where the 4H and FFA were an integral part of the town.
Dan
The picture almost has a death in the family atmosphere.
Imagine this picture published in a Wisconsin regional (or state) newspaper with only the date and county as the title, how it communicates to readers the result to their fellow citizens of our current economic policy..
My wife is an addict of Doc Pol tv series. His practice serves many dairy farmers in rural Michigan as well as the general public. As a viewer I cannot begin to appreciate and understand how independent farmers manage to support themselves given the many financial risks involved and razor thin margins. Credit to them, their dedication, and grit.
I couldn't agree more, Bob. I might not be able to side with many of them politically, but they are the life blood of the country.
Brent
---------------------------------------------
Jack Flesher wrote:
Great picture, framing and tonality.
Thank you, Jack. Much appreciated.
Brent
---------------------------------------------
Danpbphoto wrote:
Yes fantastic composition Brother!
I am surrounded by farmers and agriculture in many forms. I came from the fields of Iowa to a small country town in Mary-land where the 4H and FFA were an integral part of the town.
Dan
Thanks much Brother! In high school I was one of the dopes that wanted nothing to do with the FFA group. Big mistake on my part. I now have many friends who are family farmers with small farms and my attitude is much different that it was as a kid. Their dedication is astonishing. They get up at 4 AM to milk cows, then work all day in their fields. Vacations are almost unheard of. All that to just scrape by.
Brent
---------------------------------------------
jswain wrote:
The picture almost has a death in the family atmosphere.
Imagine this picture published in a Wisconsin regional (or state) newspaper with only the date and county as the title, how it communicates to readers the result to their fellow citizens of our current economic policy..
The way they were talking, it almost was like there had been a death. They've literally had the rug pulled out from under them. In some parts of the midwest, 70 percent of the soybean crop was pre-sold to China. Now, the soybeans just sit rotting with no Chinese market and nobody picking up the slack. Many farmers will be going bankrupt if this tariff situation isn't fixed.
Brent
Thanks much Brother! In high school I was one of the dopes that wanted nothing to do with the FFA group. Bib mistake on my part. I now have many friends who are family farmers with small farms and my attitude is much different that it was as a kid. Their dedication is astonishing. They get up at 4 AM to milk cows, then work all day in their fields. Vacations are almost unheard of. All that to just scrape by.
Brent
---------------------------------------------
Brother Brent....We have a few old town childhood friends that are still in farming. It has been rough going as you state. I believe that the transition to some kind of equality for the people who are the life blood of our society, and the World, is having some "roadblocks" of the political kind. I have hope that this will not become a permanent "talking point" instead of a "actionable point now."
Rest assured whatever my political philosophy is, leaving our "food supply, grain supply, beef supply farmers" out of the equation is WRONG!
The farmers here are not happy at this time as well. The "playing field" for our farmers has never been equal or benefited them in a good way. Prosperous/prosperity way if you will.
Soybeans were mentioned. Brazil has overtaken the US in soybean exports and is China's biggest importer of soybeans. Brazil is outpacing the US in soybean exports to Asia mainly.
The money that could be delegated for more agriculture is being deferred to more social related programs. At least here in Maryland.
I have done what little a "constituent" can do to make our lawmakers here aware of this but I fear it fell on deaf ears. Maryland is an "all blue State". Therefore all my constituent complaints or advice has not been heard. Or taken into account for help.And my complaints have been over a very long period of time and over many different political administrations both State and Federal.
I do not know what the Nation's farming lobby in DC is doing. But it is NOT enough! Wisconsin is thee "Dairy State". Iowa is corn and pork. Maryland is beef, grain and dairy.
Your image is extremely "telling". The faces of these providers is not a happy one!
Thanks for the photo composition and rest assured those of us here in Maryland that stand along with the farming community in ALL 50 states are making our disdain known to our political reps.
It is hard for these struggling farmers to decline a developer that offers them millions of dollars for their land to build a housing development. I can't blame them.
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote:
Brother Brent....We have a few old town childhood friends that are still in farming. It has been rough going as you state. I believe that the transition to some kind of equality for the people who are the life blood of our society, and the World, is having some "roadblocks" of the political kind. I have hope that this will not become a permanent "talking point" instead of a "actionable point now."
Rest assured whatever my political philosophy is, leaving our "food supply, grain supply, beef supply farmers" out of the equation is WRONG!
The farmers here are not happy at this time as well. The "playing field" for our farmers has never been equal or benefited them in a good way. Prosperous/prosperity way if you will.
Soybeans were mentioned. Brazil has overtaken the US in soybean exports and is China's biggest importer of soybeans. Brazil is outpacing the US in soybean exports to Asia mainly.
The money that could be delegated for more agriculture is being deferred to more social related programs. At least here in Maryland.
I have done what little a "constituent" can do to make our lawmakers here aware of this but I fear it fell on deaf ears. Maryland is an "all blue State". Therefore all my constituent complaints or advice has not been heard. Or taken into account for help.And my complaints have been over a very long period of time and over many different political administrations both State and Federal.
I do not know what the Nation's farming lobby in DC is doing. But it is NOT enough! Wisconsin is thee "Dairy State". Iowa is corn and pork. Maryland is beef, grain and dairy.
Your image is extremely "telling". The faces of these providers is not a happy one!
Thanks for the photo composition and rest assured those of us here in Maryland that stand along with the farming community in ALL 50 states are making our disdain known to our political reps.
It is hard for these struggling farmers to decline a developer that offers them millions of dollars for their land to build a housing development. I can't blame them.
Dan
Well said, Dan. Politicians need to listen to all of their constituents--not just those who voted for them. I have the same problem here when I've contacted the office of our Republican Senator, Ron Johnson. I don't even get an acknowledgement that I contacted his office. When I contact our Democratic Senator, Tami Baldwin, or Rep Marc Pocan (both whom I know personally) I get an immediate reply. They don't always agree with me but at least they don't just ignore me the way Johnson does. Things gotta change!!
Brent
Fantastic capture, Brent. This is so good it almost looks staged.
The struggle of our farmers is just the tip of the iceberg. This clueless administration isn’t just failing our agricultural sector, it’s systematically destroying farmers, companies, universities, and even broadcasters who dare to criticize the government.
There is some strong unhappiness/anger you captured. I read how some of the Iowa soybean farmers usually sell 70% of their crop to China.........not this year. And it will take a very long time for them to recover.
Monika C wrote:
There is some strong unhappiness/anger you captured. I read how some of the Iowa soybean farmers usually sell 70% of their crop to China.........not this year. And it will take a very long time for them to recover.
Thanks Monika. I think a lot of them won't ever recover. They'll sell their farms and this whole country will be worse off because of it. The actions being taken by this administration are ridiculously short-sighted.
Brent
Al Trujillo wrote:
A trade war doesn't help anyone but we were forewarned that it was in the cards.
Great image capturing strong emotions...that is what great photography is all about!
Thanks very much, Al. I felt a little uneasy taking this shot--sort of like eavesdropping with a camera--but I thought what they were talking about made it important to capture.
Brent
Monika C wrote:
There is some strong unhappiness/anger you captured. I read how some of the Iowa soybean farmers usually sell 70% of their crop to China.........not this year. And it will take a very long time for them to recover.
Maryland's soybean farmers have a huge market in Asia.
Maryland's Eastern Shore is a heavy poultry producing part of the State. Soybeans are used as feed here and they export the rest all over the World.
Farmers have never got a good deal overall. Yes there were good years but the dam "middleman" takes his cut and that leaves the farmer with little to "take to the bank".
bnfotografie wrote:
Thanks very much, Al. I felt a little uneasy taking this shot--sort of like eavesdropping with a camera--but I thought what they were talking about made it important to capture.
Brent
I think we all here can agree that these tariffs are NOT helping our farmers.
In Maryland, many farmers are getting subsides for their crops, dairy and beef. But they all agree, farm groups generally prefer access to stable markets over government assistance, which they consider a temporary solution.
The current political administration did pass a Farmer Subside Bill in July I believe. But it is only a "band-aid" fix.
Good discussion!
Dan
