NFO-259 (AV10760): US Farm Report: Agriculture Tomorrow

[music] hi everybody and welcome to us farm report this week my special guest is Erhard Pfingsten who is the national vice president of the national farmers organization it's indeed always a pleasure to have Fink as a special guest on our show we all are very much aware of the serious exodus of farmers from the farms of America we are also very much aware of the fact that the youth from the farms of America are also leaving the farms and going to the urban areas on this week's show I'm going to visit with Erhard Pfingsten about some of these problems and in fact through his words perhaps we can take a look into the crystal ball and glance at what perhaps will happen to agriculture in terms of these problems in the next five to ten years Fink how old really is the average American farmer the average age now is between 57 and 58 years old so I'd say it's very obvious that a good many of them cannot stay out there any longer or much longer for that very reason so we are losing the farmers at a terrific rate I think five years ago we thought we were losing them at about the rate of 2,500 a week and that is accelerating very very fast according to the president's Blue Ribbon Commission on food and fiber we will be because of low farm prices down to 500,000 operators by 1980 and half of that reduction to have been accomplished by 1975 well this would mean that five out of every six operators that we have out there now will be gone or the number reduced to that extent so I'd say we are facing a real problem that could very well develop into a food shortage in this nation if this problem is not corrected and correct immediately 500,000 by 1980 right now that's compared to how many operators today about 3 million a very very decided reduction 85% to be eliminated by low farm crisis now I think in this nation we've always taken food more or less for granted because there's always been plenty of it but we're losing the producers the young people as you pointed out cannot come in to agriculture and this I think is in a way self-explanatory first of all if the established farmers can't stay out there how can new ones come in and establish themselves this is one aspect of it and then the other is of course that the average income from the sale of all farm production across this nation now is 3% interest on the investment so how can any young man enter agriculture and yet have to enter with a debt pay eight nine ten percent interest for his investment and get a three percent return I think simple arithmetic points out that it is an utter impossibility so something's got to give and something is going to give thank on today's show you will be meeting along with our viewers Elmer Bergschneider of Urich Missouri and his two sons now Elmer is a fairly substantial farmer I think he farmed some five hundred and fifty acres the two boys upon graduation from school went to town to go to work because they couldn't make it on the farm but they've returned now to the farm one of them is renting land the other one is helping is bad does this happen very often no not not just that way I've heard it said and often times that farmers can or young fellows can't establish themselves by taking over the father's operation see this is of course assuming that you have a unit that is established that is self-sufficient that one boy takes that over I think what they're overlooking when we're talking on that vein is that the average family has at least four children and there isn't any father going to shut out let's say three other children no they just isn't so even if he does maybe take possession of that operation they're still the debt factor is there he's going to have to pay off the three brothers or sister and brother or whatever it may be so it still comes back to just about the same thing that unless he's an only child and his father's well fixed and the only way he'd be that as if he made it years gone by when prices were good and that'll defeat itself eventually to because they just can't it can't keep on that way these young people going to the urban areas can only result in their contributing greatly to the urban crisis oh of course you already have a great unemployment overpopulation in the metropolitan areas we have directly from agriculture contributed in the last twenty years about three million families or about five million workers in addition to that we've destroyed through low farm prices many a businessman in the small towns in the rural town so from the two sources we've sent about seven million workers out of agriculture or out of the rural community into the industrial center to compete for work there so when you start tabulating all of these figures then I'd say that probably the urban problem that we have the unemployment came directly from agriculture here now very often we hear it said that the people in the ghettos and the people in the big cities that are not employed the reason that they're not employed it's because they're not skilled workers well a farmer believe me it's very definitely skilled when he's out there on the farm he's skilled in many fields but when he leaves that farm operation and moves into industry he moves to the bottom of labor's totem pole and he's an unskilled person there and is competing for exactly the same kind of jobs that the unemployed and our cities do not have so I'd say even a great extent to a great extent that problem comes right out of rural America and low farm prices I think the nation had better face up to it they are going to be paced paying through the nose for this food eventually unless that they correct this situation now and pay those people who are producing it a fair price so that they can can you to produce form or in short they are destroying the goose that laid the golden egg for them Fink while you join me in our viewers and we'll take that trip right now to Urich Missouri we would like for all of you to meet Elmer Bergschneider and his family and another NFO member in the Urich area I might mention to you that it is still rainy season here in Bates County in fact the Elmer I'm wondering if we'll ever get to our interview today finished without getting wept you can perhaps hear thunder in the distance and some sprinkles are falling well what is the size of your farm here now what kind of farming do you do is it pretty diversified we have have corn soybeans and some wheat and grass well now obviously you run hogs here too how many had a year do you figure you run out oh we try to run at around 250-300 head a year you're doing some converting over here I notice you're converting what looks like a broiler house or a chicken house to hogs would you like to tell me about that well oh boy when he came back out of the city of this spring he wanted to go in the hog business so I told him I'd take an old chicken house and clean it out and go to work that's just what he did and so he got plating feral and crates we put in concrete floor so he's all set up now for 10 sows well that's fine you know a recently us farm report to cover the broiler situation down in Coleman Alabama and a lot of those broader producers down there pretty disgusted with the way things have been going for them in terms of price are doing the same thing with their broiler houses price really is the name of the game isn't it altimeter of the price you found out how to raise it but now we're gonna get a prize for well now speaking of price your tenure with NFO has been as you said about 12 years through the years do you feel that NFO definitely has helped its members in the Bates County area price-wise oh I think without a doubt we've we've got a big increase in the prize it's through the efforts an amp oh I don't think no you are in a rather unique position now Elmer I don't know whether you're aware of this or not one of the big problems as our show this week is trying to point out with the agricultural scene is that the young people are leaving the farm now you have two sons who are still farming with you but they did leave didn't yeah they both had a hitch in the city why did they go Elmer I'd just presume [unclear] they didn't think he's making enough on the farm and they just had to had to go sieve themselves what the farmer out of the city people lived on and what they were doing well now you mentioned a while ago that in your work with NFO you were taken at one time to Washington where you did talk to some of our national legislators including some of these people who represent urban areas they're interested vitally in the farm problem too aren't they oh I think without a doubt we had very good talks with these urban congressmen senators and they seemed like they were glad to talk to us and I think whenever you get down to it they really are wondering about our prices just as well as they are their own people well in your case your two sons as you say took a hitch in the city now you multiply that by thousands and this is a contribution to what we're calling today the urban crisis these fellows went to town and became a part of that urban crisis so these urban legislators I think have to be concerned with the farm situation hoping that the farmers of America will get enough price to encourage the next generation and the one following to stay on the farm and maintain that family farm unit wouldn't you agree I know a number of boys that would like to farm if they would have see a future in it and we get our prices like we should have I think I see you think you'll see a trend the younger boys back to farm speaking of prices again when you and miss Bergschneider were married and I think you told me this was 1936 and this was pretty much depression days what kind of prices were you getting then for some of your farm commodities wheat for example do you recall I think that my parity of my crop of wheat that time and I think it sold for around 86 cents a bushel on what is it today oh I don't know I figured harvest to be around dollar 20 maybe 25 and what would you guess has been the increase in production cost to the average farmer since 1936 unbelievable I'm quite sure well now what do you figure is the real future in farming Elmer what what do you think where do you think the future for your boys lies I can't help but think if there's a farming has a great future for anyone that wants to work and then you're going to have to do a little better job than the average it's still competitive but I think there's a good future in farming and I like to see my boy stay do you think that the future lies in efficiency or is it still a matter of price I think the price was the biggest thing at efficiency it heck you're on the farmer wall you got to learn how to cut corners and lack of that and be efficient but you can't do not need [unclear] there's no one need to raise a lot if you don't get a prize I don't think we're ever gonna get it done Elmer if we don't get soaked we'll get hit by lightning well you mentioned the efficiency and price when you talk about the bright future of Agriculture I'd like your comments on how you feel price is going to best be achieved well I think one and only way is the farmers to unite and join up with NFO and hold hold our production together to get a price that's definitely the answer so many NFO members feel that really it's pretty basic and pretty simple and I think you probably agree with that don't you yeah I say it's always maybe we shouldn't say this but it's a simple it's ridiculous because and I still say that if all the farmers would understand they would join because we're not trying to do anything only give them talk of production together and help one another to get a prize you know many people who are agricultural experts are looking down the road a few years and predicting that because of the lack of price which is of course taking young people off the farms that we perhaps in this country could have a very serious food problem how do you feel about that Elmer well I don't know what to say about that it's dance the reason we could because the average age of farmers are getting old and unless we attract some young when younger ones back corporations or something like that would that take over I just don't feel like they could produce it cheaply as good as a family-type farm Elmer not want to thank you and before we get any wetter I think I'll leave you if you don't mind to talk for a few minutes with your sons William and Gene and I do hope that they're in a drier place than you are okay hi fellas hey how you doing you think we're gonna get wet you know the way we're able to cut the film I'm sure our audience is wondering how I can take take five steps and move from rain to no rain but that's what we've done and I like it better where you are than I did with your dad we won't melt that that's right hey a bill are you the older of this twosome yes and you're farming nearby aren't you yeah bout six miles away how many acres you farming Oh what-what kind of farming you're doing is a pretty diversified a gentle farming calling live stop did you invest in land over there or at all it's already all rented land now what about you gene are you farming on your own yes I'm helping dad this year and hoping maybe I'll be able to rent some acres next year yeah now you know we've talked your dad and I about you too you really aren't fitting the pattern you know in agriculture today the pattern being that young fellows like yourselves who grow up on the family type farm they're leaving the farms and they're going to the urban areas and working and staying there now as I understand it from your dad both of you gave that a try but it didn't work out what what made you go to town to work bill oh I'll make a little money in the wintertime sue that a warm they got here when I got my paycheck oh yeah where did you go I'll work for the wholesale associate wholesale grocers over in Kansas one winter and Hallmark cards one winner yeah last time I've been up there well what you're saying is that you couldn't make it on the farm so you thought maybe that's where you could make it in in town right well grass look greener on the other side fastest greens that look like it does that doesn't know it sure does what were your reasons Jean just try it out heard a little bit about it to try that and I done spent my apprenticeship up here I come back yeah you went to we're all different kinds of construction and biggest part of that worked up there was a gas service company and bartending quite a little bit how long did you work in the gas service anywhere for three to four years up north yeah well did the grass a little do a little fading on you too yeah they're a little bit greener on the other side sighs up here well you know this is what you guys know farming after all you grew up on this farm and so I can see where it might be a little difficult to get the farm out of the farmer and it certainly is that in your cases what about some of the guys around here with whom you fellas grew up and went to school on neighboring farms what are they doing bill holder scattered all over I think I'm about doing one out of my classes farming now for those few in neighboring towns just very few farming though they try and then they'll try something else and they come back and go back but oh I don't know it looks like you're gonna stick with the city now you know it's kind of a sad commentary I think on agriculture that people like you and gene who really want a farm so often have to take jobs to make enough money to farm and you know and it's the truth that happens doesn't it what about some of the fellows you went school with gene are they scattered to like Bill's friend not near as bad a little bit younger and a lot of them's in service now if they come back they will probably go to the city well Bill and Gene you fellas grew up on an NFO farm with a father who's been an active NFO member you've both tried it in the urban areas you don't like the urban living you're back to farming you wet because you couldn't make a living you felt on the farm so coming back you must both of you must have some hope for farming bill where does where does the hope lie a lot of being increase in prices we've got the production if we can just get some prizes for now you agree with that Gene I certainly do I really do we need the price is about as much as anything it needs to go up and like I said we got plenty of production well you know you're farming efficiently I'm sure of that from what we've seen around here most farmers today are farming efficiently most farmers are increasing their production for members but along with that of course comes greatly increased production costs and I expect that you've all been experiencing that haven't you bill sure have well fellas where do you think this price help is going to come from bill it'll be through collective bargaining through NFO blocking our production together and selling together about the only way we're going to achieve this gene? i feel about the same way the farmers in the community are all over nationwide is gonna have to stick together similar to the unions of Kansas City or now I've been related to one man walks off the job with a rest time in following pretty hard to accomplish it in farming anymore by going it alone isn't it it can't be done so he's just not big enough how many children you have bill I've got two of a boy and a little girl great and you're a bachelor aren't you yes gonna do something about that not looking that way okay fellas thank you very much it's been a real pleasure visiting with you today thank you bet now I'm gonna run over here and talk to a neighbor of yours Lee Ernie Doll okay okay you know I'm told by the people around these parts that not too many years ago as far as NFO goes you were pretty much of a skeptic is that right this is correct how did you feel about it 10, 11 years ago I thought it was out of this world I thought they were dreaming uh-huh so I was against it for about two years and I began to listen a little more every time they come around and talk to me I begin to realize they had some truth to going so I thought a little more less and a little more and I joined ten years ago well now as your neighbor Elmer had much to do and influencing you well Elmer and several the boys and around this belongs to him I've had about ten different guys at that time had talked to me well I was one of those blockheads I always say where do you farm we are not a farm south of Urich Missouri how many acres do you farm here approximately 400 acres what what is it grain farming basically else diversified I had Black Angus cattle and I feed my cows out and I have Yorkshire hogs my feed out hogs right I feed all the grain to the racetrack they accept no it means now you like Elmer have been a hard worker with NFO you've certainly done your part in organization here in Bates County what all have you accomplished for the organization well they would take a lot of time if I want to tell it all but I would like to correct you I live in Henry County oh yeah it's close by right but I've worked in several different fields help organize and help talking to farmers and I've been on the green committee I'm zone green chairman now I've been vice-president five years in the county I've done some legislative work I've gone to Jefferson City into Washington DC and went to the governor's conference two different times since I've started them which they are very interesting it takes a while for the farmers to get their story across to these people but I think we are gaining in this respect well in your country Lee Ernie as well as in Bates County I presume that you have watched this exodus from the farms of this part of Missouri on the part of the young people you have watched these boys here on this farm I suppose grow up and leave and they've come back one of the reasons they have told us that they have come back to farming is that through NFO they see a little bit of a bright glimmer of hope for better prices do you agree with that I agree with this 100% NFO is the only answer for the future of American farmer if we don't have collective bargain for farmers it will go corporation and corporation is not good for our country well corporation farming is not doing too well is it Lee Ernie it's not doing a bit of good now and it won't until it gets control and then they will raise food prices to make a profit at this time now you don't have any sons to worry about in terms of leaving do you know I have two girls but one of them is married at the pleasant and the boy is from a farm and would like to return to the farm but he is going the u.s. trade school on diesel at this time well do you know of any specific experiences where a fella young man off of a farm in your county has gone to the city and what has happened to him well there's been several with the goal well I could mention my brother if this is the fishing he had of a boy that was coming right out of high school and he would like to farm and every respect but he could not put the mine together to start agriculture so he went to can see and through an uncle got on as electrician helper and joined the Union which they sent him to college the night school he has got his German card now and drawing a good salary and this boy will never be back to the farm so how are you gonna keep him down on the farm price and only price if there is money and agriculture equal to the rest of the economy they will stay on the land sometimes a lack of understanding can be very detrimental to an organization and I would presume that perhaps through your county in this part of Missouri the non NFO members perhaps are non NFO members because they really don't understand NFO and haven't been informed properly about NFO would you agree to that I would agree with this 100% now of course you know your your living proof that this can be so because you admitted that before you join ten years ago that you were pretty skeptical and pretty much against NFO and the reason that you felt that way was because you didn't quite understand it didn't have the full picture how does a farmer get the full picture well there are several ways but I would suggest one way of an open invitation to come to our County meetings talk with our County officers with questions ask them any question about the organization that you are interested in we are a group of farmers trying to bargain for our products and yours to put a price on these products as same as the rest of the economy does with their products and if you will come and ask your questions I think then you will understand what we are trying to do you know I've been to many an NFO meeting and if these meetings are anything they're open aboveboard and completely honest and I think that probably a meeting of the nature you are talking about could be a source of great information this is true I've been to a lot of different meetings and if there's any question comes up it is usually settled before we ever move on to another one open mind lis discussions and let you make up your own mind at what you want to do but if you would understand this collective bargaining is nothing but blocked your production together selling together and putting a price tag art think does a farming operation the size and scope of Elmer Bergschneider's represent the American agriculture at its most efficient that's a very heart of Agriculture the family type unit the most efficient in the world anybody's ever any nation's gotten away from it got into a very serious situation think I want to thank you very much for being my guest today my pleasure it's always my pleasure my special guests on this week's us farm report mister Erhard Pfingsten national vice-president of the National Farmers Organization US farm report is seen each week at this time on this station until we meet again so long everybody [music]