As a result of the current pandemic, there have been some interesting side effects happening in my world of farming and ranching.
Firstly, the desire of many consumers to purchase fresh and/or locally-grown food has led to many producers being able to either begin or expand their niche market of bypassing grocery stores and restaurants and offer food products directly to the people who will consume that food. Whether that demand is fueled by some shortages (real or perceived) of food, or a wish to eat healthier and more nutritious meals, I don’t know, but no one can argue that it hasn’t brought about massive change.
For years, I’ve wanted to be able to buy the locally produced raw milk that I’ve missed for the 50 years that have passed since we sold the last, old Jersey milk cow that had provided us fresh milk since my birth. Now, there’s a little, on-farm outlet that sells the best-tasting milk you can imagine only 8 miles from my house. I’m there every week, and they have recently added fresh, farm-grown beef, pork, chicken and eggs. According to the owners, people drive from a 60-mile radius to be able to take advantage of their offerings.
I also have a neighbor farmer who purchased a small meat processing plant several years ago. He has been able to expand its capacity over the past few months, and he still can’t keep up with demand. I suspect his customers will still be there, long after the pandemic is over. I really feel we have reached a new normal of people wanting to see where their food comes from.
Of course, all the side-effects aren’t positive.
As millions of people have had to learn to work from home, millions of them have also learned they don’t have to live in the same, over-crowded, crime-ridden cities and pay exhorbitant prices for housing in order to be able to do the same work. Hundreds of thousands of those people are now flocking to places like where I live to continue working at home, while enjoying the safety and serenity of small, rural communities.
This mass exodus from the cities is driving up land prices to unprecedented levels. While it may be good for the farmers who are contemplating retirement, it is making it next to impossible for younger and beginning farmers to be able to purchase land with any possible, feasible way to pay for it.
Another older neighbor recently sold the farm on which he had lived and worked his entire life. The purchaser simply wants to use it as a weekend retreat for him and his family, with no plans to raise any livestock or crops.
I once thought the most frightening statement I could hear, as a farmer, was, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you.”
In my neck of the woods, that has now been replaced with, “Hi, I’m your new neighbor. We just moved here from California.”
Jerry Crownover farms in Lawrence County. He is a former professor of Agriculture Education at Missouri State University, and is an author and professional speaker. To contact Jerry, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
