3 ms·
Isn't the farmer the wrong person to ask? As in, the margins are razor-thin because the competitors (merged conglomerates operating) are operating vertically-in
by patcon 3y ago
Isn't the farmer the wrong person to ask? As in, the margins are razor-thin because the competitors (merged conglomerates operating) are operating vertically-integrated at scale, driving prices so low that only they can skim enough to profit from participatong in the market.
So the farmer has no variables to change because the problem is not in their jurisdiction, but rather the government's, no? (i.e. breaking up giant agri-businesses, or taxing them and redistributing to subsidize small operations)
But I recognize there's also geopolitics of food, so there are many layers I don't understand :)
- spiderice 3y agoWhy should we be subsidizing farmers that can’t do it as cheaply as these conglomerates you mention? It seems like in other industries we say “tough luck, find a different job” if you can’t compete. Genuinely wondering what the difference is here.
- jterrys 3y agoBecause usually you try to prevent race to the bottoms.
- eszed 3y agoTechnically that should be "races to the bottom". There are multiple races, not multiple bottoms. A race to the bottoms, however, does sound like a wholesome family activity. (Apologies for the grammar nerdery; I mainly want to make the joke.)
- jterrys 3y agoNo it's cool. I respect it. Thank you for correcting me :)
- hughesjj 3y agoI mean, first, we've been subsidizing farmers since the dust bowl/great recession. As to why consolidation of our nations food supply into a small cohort of conglomerates is a bad thing.... I mean do I really have to expand on that one? I'm all for setting price minimums on agriculture IMHO. We have such an excess of food already that, combined with food banks and stamps, I'm not concerned about people going hungry. Most of the expensive shit is from processing and logistics seems to be the biggest issue with food scarcity (there's a reason meals on wheels exists)