There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress

I've driven the almost 400 mile stretch of Interstate 5 from L.A. to Sacramento dozens of times. Quite honestly, it's as boring as it gets. with only the usual gas stations, mini-marts, fast-food, home-cookin' restaurants, and strangely a newer batch of Starbuck's Coffee shops sprouting up everywhere. In between... farms, orchards, cattle, and dirt.

On July 15th, as I began my trip to Utah, I came off the Grapevine decline and hit the flat 250 or so mile stretch of interstate which begins the farming belt in the valley. Almost immediately I noticed what I had only heard about on the radio and in the papers. Where once there were vast fields of green, now there where empty, barely recognizable rows of unplanted dirt and growing weeds. Only sporadically at first, but once I passed Bakersfield and for about a 200 mile stretch, I could not believe my eyes. Field after field laid fallow. And not really fallow, but unattended... as if it was not going to be planted in the near future either.

Signs were staked in the ground on almost every patch of barren farmland. The most common one, which was yellow and obviously a group effort to wake up the sleeping travelers of their future plight, read: "CONGRESS CREATED DUST BOWL"

Others, which looked more homemade were posted on non-operational farm equipment parked as close to the freeway as possible, stated things like:

"FOOD ONLY GROWS WHERE WATER FLOWS" -and- "NO WATER = NO JOBS = NO FUTURE"

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3-h7k_OIJk...edDustBowl.jpg

At one point, after 150 miles or so of seeing this horror, I broke down in tears and had to pull over to the side of the road. I saw the aqueduct, which followed Interstate 5 most of the way, and large fields of dead trees which were planted just a few feet from the flowing cement river. I imagined how those trees would feel, imprisoned in the dying dirt by their own roots, if they could indeed comprehend that their source of life was just a stones throw away.

It was like some horrific story-book come to life; science fiction in real time. I was thinking of the farmers and their families and wondering what would become of them and their land. I was thinking about the consequences of hundreds of miles of food no longer being grown, and adding together the other states like Campo, Colorado which have the same situation... only planting 60% of their crops this year.

This deadness went on until the brink of civilization once again began to show. When I approached the Stockton/Modesto highway interchange area the carnage seemed to stop, and the fields appeared to be healthy and bountiful. I can only guess that this is because more people drive on that stretch of the freeway, and so the powers that be are trying to keep up appearances. No other explaination came to mind.

To the readers of this, I can only say that living in the city has literally blinded me to the truth, even though I knew it was happening. I wonder how many other things I ignore? Many economists and trends predictors have called for food shortages and food riots in the fall, and with what I saw last week, I have new reason to believe them.

But then, that's the real problem isn't it? Belief...

If you believe that the food will continue to flow (magically appearing on store shelves in a grocery store near you) and just dismiss the very real claims of shortages worldwide, including a severe wheat shortage in this country due to a harmfull fungus, then I might boldy say that you deserve whatever fate befalls you.

I challenge you all to take a drive up the 5 and see this for yourself. Please! Don't let this go unseen. If you are camera or video savy, I think it would be a really great photo exibit or website showing the true nature of our common problem. And you better believe, as you take your daily shower, flush your toilet, and water your fertilized-non-edible grassy yards, that this is indeed a Congress created crisis. So please tell as many people about it as possible.
Lastly, if you haven't already... buy storable food! Go to the dollar store and buy rice and beans. Buy pasta, canned and jar foods, or anything with a shelf-life of more than 6 months.

What's the worse that can happen? You'll have food for 6 months.
What's the best that can happen? You'll have food for 6 months.
Take care. Spread this information. Get mad. Fight tyranny. And...
Don't be a sheep.

http://thecomingdepression.blogspot.com/

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

As a farmer i can tell you the food will make it to your plate-you have no comprehension of the calorie producing capability of north america farmers.

The problem will be in the banking/currency department.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

At what price?

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Good article Canadian-guerilla. You do seem to find a lot of good ones that I enjoy reading. Thanks.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Can they produce enough calories to fill a food-laden semi with gasoline and get it past the police blockade?

Can they do it without government subsidies?

Can they do it without being able to buy seed, without petroleum-based chemicals, without working heavy equipment?

Can they do it when Monsanto copyrights the seed used to plant the majority of crops in this country and they will be sued for trying to save their seed?

The food production system relies on a network of transportation based on petroleum. It is centralized; a few large companies process most of the food products in the country. The wheat in your Raisin Bran is grown hundreds, maybe thousands of miles away, and travels many more miles than that as it goes through the various stages of processing.

Yes, American farmers have a large calorie producing capacity. But they can't produce jack, or get it to your plate for that matter, without a steady supply of gas.

Gas isn't the only thing, by the way. This is just one really bad thing that could happen. The food production infrastructure is brittle. It's going to break.

We're going to starve like the Ukraine, with full grain bins.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Care to elaborate?

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

The Holodomor had nothing to do with production capacity, but with idiotic government mismanagement of the food supply. In that case it was probably intentional. In the coming American starvation it could be argued either way.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Here in the Willamette valley Oregon, I'm watching many of the farmers go through a financial storm. It dosen't matter how much you can produce, if there is no-one there to buy the product.

The nursery and grass seed industry is collapsing. With no new houses being built and the large golf courses not buying tons of seeds, there is no one to buy their product. I know that these are not food items, but many farmers are diversified so that one crop failure won't put them out of business. It dosen't help when every crop that you raise is destroyed or unsellable.

Caneberries/Blackberries - With less than 20% of the crop in, the canneries started telling farmers that they wouldn't take any more. I recieved one of those notices personally. There was no warning, one day they took berries, the next they wouldn't take them. I heard that one farmer took a truck load of berries that they wouldn't take, and dumped all the berries on the ground at the entrance. (I was able to sell my small patch to people locally, but most berry farmers will recieve nothing to pay their mortgages. )

Dairies - milk is being sold for less than it costs to raise. Right now farmers are losing $100 per cow, per month. This is unsustainable. Remember, the price you pay at the grocery store has almost no correlation with the price that the farmer recieves. Many dairy farmers are trying to sell their downsize, or sell their herd out completely. All those cows are hitting the market for butchering and getting very low prices.

blueberries- Most processors are still taking blueberries, but the price has crashed. Too many blueberries have been planted in recent years. Plus, the US government has been working to destroy the industry. With the reasoning that US consumers would eat more blueberries if they were available year round, they have flooded the market with cheaply grown foreign berries. Why buy US berries for pies and jam, when you can buy them for 1/3 the price from South America?

Cattle- The prices for cattle are starting to collapse. Too many dairy cows are hitting the market, and meat processors are getting their fill of cheap meat. I've heard of people selling animals that they've fed for a year, and getting less than they paid for them as calves.

Pigs- The prices are down. I don't know any pig farmers personally, but I've read that the fear of the pig flu is causing people to stay away from pork.

Wheat, corn, etc. are fall harvested crops so I can't comment on them and the farmers that raise them until harvest time.

Remember, during the great depression, farmers had no way to sell their crops. I've read stories about sheep owners shooting their sheep in canyons and leaving their bodies to rot, because it costs more to ship them then they would recieve from selling them. Meanwhile, millions starved.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

What is it that CONgress has done to create this problem ?

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Thank you Melody. A grim outlook for sure, to say the least. Thank you. God speed to you.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

ever think about buying a Katadyn ?

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

I dare anyone to visit a MODERN FARM-not the mom and pop shacks,but the mom and pop shacks with kids.There will be large shiny equipment that is worth millions.They do not mind visitors,they are not scared of strangers like city people!

Trust me you can do this-ask them what and how much they produce-go to a dietary table and crunch a few numbers.

Or just believe this statement.

The us is the jugernaute of food production.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

My guess is that they aren't allowing them to draw water from the river/water table, so that the bumblefooted snaggletoothed fartweasle won't lose is breeding/hunting ground.

This has probably been designed to create a false shortage that will allow them to tax rainfall/water usage.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

I'm pretty sure there will be food, but there will be little or no choice, or there will be rationing and many will have the same thing at every meal.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

And when some dough head mentions utah or colarado in food production-there are some farmers in iowa who wouldnt trade their farm for the whole state.

Yes farmers can butcher and bake on site.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

i believe you but it is all built on the availabilty of cheap energy and ubundant fresh water there are very few farmers looking at sustainable farming because honestly its difficult to compete with cheap energy
for production,shipping and fertaliser.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Seek help from a qualified mental health professional.

Then I guess, in your world, no other explainations (sic) exist. I'm thankful I don't live in your world.

I'm sure you mean figuratively, not literally. Perhaps a community college class in creative writing would help.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

A possible translation: My denial requires your denial so do what it takes to see more like the sociopathic herd.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

you do know that i'm not the author of this article, right ?

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

How many mom-and-pop farmers remain?

Discussions of farms always mention the magic word "families", which suggests that the gigantic agribusiness concerns barely run any farms - yeah right!

If Congress changes the rules so that farms, along with everyone else, must pay market rates for water, then, yes, food prices will increase, but if the other aspects of the market aren't wrecked, then the farms will obviously survive.

Why do I think that unsubsidized water will never happen?

Farm subsidies haven't saved the family farm. Cheap water hasn't saved the family farm. Both sure helped ADM, though.

:s10:

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Most farms are mom-pop-child.
Just cause the business was incorprated doesnt mean the shareholders arent family.

Trust me the corprates dont want the hassle of agri-business-who works 100 hour weeks anymore?
They take their cut at zero risk,and the farmer PAYS.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Yeah, I do.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Or perhaps I think people who have to stop driving because they are crying and wondering how trees feel would benefit from professional mental care.

If drought incapacitates the blogger's ability to drive, imagine what LA traffic would do.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Until Osaka actually highlighted this hysterical writing it was somehow missed by all...including me. Now it screams silliness. LOL.

:23_28_100s:

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Sure the farmers can produce but they will be hamstrung by government regulation. As prices rise people already stretched by economic troubles will scream for the government to do something. Then they will step in with food rationing and price controls which will make farming a money losing losing proposition. With no monetary incentive to produce farmers won't bother.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

There stuff is really expensive and they break there equiment up in multiple peices to gouge there customer base even futher.:s10:

The I can almost get 3 sport berkey bottles for one Katadyn bottel(with accesories)

http://www.directive21.com/accessories.html

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

The number of family owned farms is about 1/5 what it was fifty years ago.

Take a closer look at that picture. Click on it to get the big image. Look past the trailer and try to imagine all that space brimming with plants. It's a shame they couldn't have printed "before" and "after" pics, because it's hard to imagine the scale of loss in that picture. Talk about crying may sound silly in print, but that is a very real blow to the country's well being. You will notice it in a few months when you can't get salads any more. Or fruits. Stores here are already carrying fruits and veggies imported from Mexico, which is a hoot because this is, or used to be, a farming area. Mexico grows lousy produce.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Not to nitpick, but...

Isn't that better than asking what the dirt/soil feels? Pity the fungus.

Looking @ dead/dying trees against a stark landscape of barren land (what I pictured) with a concrete river very near seems sad, corportized.

I would like to know what the previous landscape contained before the aquifers provided water. I doubt it was the lush area that the land was.

The reasoning behind the lack of water would be the key question.

But part of the reason could not be from the poor water regulations that have been followed for years.

Also, WHO is benifitting from the lack of water?:smile:

O

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Wife found this Faux News clip on the issue:

http://www.foxnews.com/search-result...-or-famine.htm

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

Thanks Andy, that cleared up any doubts about the story.

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

I bet those minnows would've made great fertilizer.

:bawling:

Re: There Is A Hunger Coming Like A Run-Away Freight Train: Created By Congress
 

it want be long before people start eating them little fish