The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."
Fer those who were fear'n a drought this spring, the last few days should have dispelled that concern. Now we can wait and see wat next summer brings.
There is a good many fields around these parts that ya can "row" the corn that has already emerged. There is, however, a goodly amount of seed in the bag a wait'n fer the fields ta dry out before it can be planted in the ground.
Rightness
Who is right? Here lies the body of William Gray, who died demand'n his right of way. He was right, dead right as he sped along, but he's just as dead as if'n he'd been wrong.
Turmoil,
Haggling, Opinions
The world today is full of turmoil. People divide on any number of issues from politics ta religion, on into economics and finance, nationality, immigration, national debt, gun rights, the color of skin, labor issues, minimum wage, taxes, police, court decisions, etc. etc. and on and on it goes. There seems no limit to what some fellers can find to take issue with.
As the haggling continues long-time friends separate. The issues grow even larger with each one argue'n they are right.
Should we be given our opinion when it provokes wrath and develops unkind attitudes? Why is it that we maintain our opinion is always right?
A good many folk have been killed as they demand their rights. But think about it fer a minute.
If the whole world sides with you, what good does it do after you are dead?
Wrong Attitudes
We don't need to convince the world of our integrity. It will shine forth if'n it is within us.
We must always stand fer the truth, but have'n wrong attitudes can cause us to miss the mark.
A spirit of pride, conceit, or haughtiness will never work fer the good.
Others are watch'n us, as well as our children make'n continual observations.
What do they observe? Isn't it important that they see right ideas, opinions, actions, and think'n?
The Response
The most important thing they learn from us is not what we consider is the best way, the most economical way, or the safest way. It is how we respond to the methods and insights of others. It is how fair and love'n we are as we consider what other folks have to offer. What is right matters and we cannot accept wrong ideas just to keep peace, but wrong attitudes can also do much damage.
Damage Done
A few years back, corn prices were high as the result of an extended drought and short nationwide crop yields. Farm average yields were way short but income was partially made up by higher prices because of the shortness. That's the way a free market works.
Government can mess the situation up. Take fer example export grain embargo's put in place by both the Nixon and Carter administrations. Prices were held back dramatically by those actions with long term negative results.
Some of these losses were made up in recent years as a result of stronger export demand and implementation of stronger valve added process'n such as "ethanol and biodiesel".
A strong negative reaction resulted and groups sprang to action to take away the new found gain. National groups respresent "n national pork producers association, grocery manufacturers association, national cattleman and national poultry associations demanded lower prices.
They insisted on the political front for action ta be taken ta lower prices. Many of these groups represented corporate producers who take capital out of local communities.
Oft time's local family farmers and state organizations did not support their cut throat activities and suffered as a result.
Local farmers grew what was needed fer food fer their livestock operations. Oft times they had grain to sell as well.
This was referred to as diversification. If'n one enterprise was short, the other made up fer it fer a somewhat steady income.
As a result they supported local value added projects in addition ta their livestock operations. The rural community worked in unison.
Huge corporate livestock operations built a business model around cheap grain, which they seldom grew.
In affect their model benefited from the misery of local loss grain prices. When that changed a few years back they lobbed to hold prices down.
Never mind they could have protected themselves with proper risk management for their feed and food needs on the board of trade.
They gambled on lower grain prices and lost.
They wanted the farmer producer ta take the hit fer their errors. They hoped fer government intervention ta hold prices down, as had been demonstrated in past years with embargoes and release'n reserve corn into the market place.
This time the new valve added projects offset government intervention. It all of a sudden became more of a free market, place rather than manipulated.
National organizations screamed and howled fer government intervention to solidity their unfortunate business model.
Bring back cheap grain, in alliance with "Big Oil" and various tree hugg'n groups along with excellent market demand yields, their goal has been achieved ta the detriment of "Fly-Over Country." (The Midwest)
Who Takes The Bullet
One has to wonder these days, with commodity prices below the cost of production, if'n prices are now low enough to meet their greedy corporate needs. Why do they still argue fer lower prices?
The answer lies somewhere in the text of "who is right." Has the "corporate greed", with it's questionable attitudes, done enough economic damage already, to the family farmer, both grain and livestock?
Now we have other nations such as China buying in on American local production through the likes of Smithfield etc.
That capital and technology is now sucked out of our local communities' fer foreign gain. It goes off shore ta an unfriendly nation that does not have our national best interests at heart.
It has been said "when the battles on export/import begin to engage, agriculture is the first ta take a bullet."
Consequently, all in our rural communities, whether farmer or not, suffer economically.
rural GROANING
Our rural communities are groaning. A feller doesn't have ta be a "Harvard graduate" ta understand cause and effect.
If'n ya jumps off a tall building the cause of your rapid descent-gravity-will produce the effect of your death when ya hits the ground.
Likewise, put into effect price depress'n policies and rural communities suffer, youth must look elsewhere fer employment and the "Life Blood of America" which is its capital, is sucked out of our rural communities and sent elsewhere.
Me and the boys have discussed this thoroughly dwell'n on it fer some time, and that's the condensed conclusions we have drawn. Think about it yourself fer a spell. We're all in this boat together. Whether you work on the farm or in the factory and sell a product to farmers you are affected.
Have a safe week and hope'n ta see youn's in church come rain or sunshine.
Remember; Wherever ya are, what ever ya be a do'n "Be A Good One!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke