The Public vs the Farmers

Just read the article Will Gilmer posted from USA Today and the comments posted.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-03-24-dairy-farms_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

It's amazes me that most people expect 2% of the population (farmers, all types) to provide food and fiber to the rest of the nation at breakeven prices or below without complaint. Most people work for businesses and never have to meet any business expense. They want their check and vacation time and nothing else.

They say "if you can't make a profit as a farmer, why do you stay in that business?" It's not the same as working for a business and changing jobs whenever you feel like it. Believe it or not, American's enjoy the cheapest and safest food in the world.

One comment from oldnavy1 shows that a little knowledge is dangerous and can be misleading.
"This article is misleading in that it does not account for Class I milk prices, which represent the bulk of what is sold by the farmers."
While this might be true for dairy farmers in the east and/or near large population areas, the average for the nation is 33% Class I, 33% Class III, and the remaining 34% split between Class II and Class IV sales.

I'll wrap this up now with the current weather here, 75 degrees and windy.