Commissioner Blackham Responds to Editorial Opinion on Agriculture
As a fifth-generation Utah farmer, and someone with considerable interest in the agriculture industry, I want to respond to an opinion article published in The Tribune Dec. 13 by Nicholas D. Kristof of The New York Times. I am amazed at the lack of understanding that he demonstrated regarding agriculture, and fear many readers may be influenced by such inaccuracies.
He is right that only 2 percent of our population provides the food for the 100 percent who eat. This alone is an amazing accomplishment. But Kristof fails to mention that Americans spend only 10 percent of our income on food, which is the lowest percentage of any nation in the world, and any time in history.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plays a key role in protecting our supply of food that has never been as safe or as affordable as it is now.
Generally, the agriculture sector that Kristof referred to as "factory farming" is the meat sector, which is the least subsidized sector in all of agriculture and provides the supply of protein that contributes to a healthy diet.
In addition, many crop farmers have expanded their production in order to remain economically viable. They farm thousands of acres now, taking advantage of clean technology and the efficiencies of scale. These advances in size and technology allow consumers to enjoy food prices that have gone virtually unchanged for the past 20 years.
Just as you and I look for ways to
cut utility costs at home, our farmers do the same. Farmers have reduced the amount of energy, feed, labor and other inputs that are required to produce our bacon, milk and chicken by about 30 percent in the past 20 years.
I find it laughable that Kristof blames farmers for the poor eating habits of the American consumer. Perhaps he should look at our living habits and the lack of proper nutrition education for which all of us are responsible. American farmers respond to market signals that consumers send with their buying habits. I am not sure what he means by "real food," but I do know that if he wants American farmers to produce food the way his family did in the past, he can expect food prices to increase at a rate similar to gas prices this year, not to mention that many people would go hungry.
The modern confinement practices are very different than they were yesterday. That does not mean they are bad. I personally understand this issue very well. As a turkey farmer, I raise birds in much better conditions now, and they are healthier and appear more relaxed. Most of these folks who think they know better have never been a producer.
I do not know any farmer who believes in abusing their animals. The occasional video that surfaces showing animal abuse by an individual worker is capturing a rare and unacceptable act that is outside the accepted policy of farms.
I question at times the wisdom of some of our farm subsidies, but overall I have concluded that most of them are useful to help stabilize the farm community where many risks are almost impossible to manage.
The primary risk is Mother Nature. Providing a safety net under our nation's crop farmers helps keep them in business. Without it I am sure we would see a constant rotation of farm ownership and increased food costs. Subsidies pose a small cost to the taxpayer, but they also contribute greatly to the abundant food supply that has kept food prices low.
Hogs do not receive any subsidy unless you count the support for the production of grain that they eat. I am a little surprised that Kristof receives a subsidy on his forest land. It does not come automatically; you have to sign up.
I am grateful for the many hard-working farmers and ranchers of this country both large and small. The last thing we should do is mess up the system that is working so efficiently and successfully.
Sincerely, Leonard M. Blackham, Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food