I’ve been reading articles about income inequality, covering a wide array of topics, since the economy crashed in 2008. Wall Street has been picketed. The minimum wage is too low. Rich people are simply hoarding all the money. But in The Des Moines Register on Tuesday, Sept. 16, a front page-article by Mike Kilen explained how the Ag economy has contributed to growth in the rich-poor gap.

The story doesn’t out right blame farmers for causing this gap, but I did take it to be the underlying theme of the story. Admittedly, that’s my perception of the article. Kilen includes information from Iowa State University sociologist David Peters that three Iowa counties are in the nation’s top 10 for inequality of income growth. That’s not surprising as farming had a pretty good run from 2000-2012 while the economy, as a whole, did not. Logic tells me that this would make a spread.

Is it the farmers’ fault? Should the farmers be “fair” and share the gains made?

Before you answer “yes,” remember that farming goes in cycles. Farming was great in the 1970s, and then in the 1980s, we experienced a farm depression that took out many farmers. Those who survived were usually ended up farming more ground. Do the math: There are fewer farmers but the same amount of land is being farmed. Of course, the farmers are “bigger.” Is it their fault? Of course not! That’s how a capitalistic society functions.

These farmers took a risk by taking on more land, and they’ve enjoyed some good times. The last five years have been probably some of the best ever for farmers who were raising crops or livestock with strong market prices and were doing a decent job of controlling their business expenses.

Now, however, the cycle has turned. The price I can sell my soybeans and field corn for today is below the cost of production. My income this year will be well below minimum wage. It probably will be a negative income! Does anyone who stands to make a profit this year want to share his income with me? I’m sure there will be people standing in line, waiting to give their money to me, right? Not!

“It’s difficult to imagine the economic mindset of those who consider that government forcing an increase in the minimum wage can bring about improved prosperity,” was posted today on one of my friend’s Facebook pages yesterday.

Let’s ask ourselves if question: If economic prosperity through minimum wage levels promises such an advantage, why not mandate a minimum wage of $100 per hour or higher?

Those who see government as the great provider can’t seem to grasp the emptiness of their vision! Numerous attempts have been made to for the U.S. government to become all-powerful, the end-all and be-all. The results have been devastating, yet so many Americans continue to promote these failed beliefs.

Our country is headed in the direction of socialism. We want everyone to be equal… I see this in kids’ contests where every kid gets a ribbon or prize. I see it in this article in The Register article, indicating that all Iowans should have equal net worth.

Let’s examine why the net worth gap is spreading in Iowa. First of all, land values have increased significantly. The incomes of some farmers have followed, but not nearly as much as one might think because a lot of this value is only on paper.

Commodity prices, on the other hand, greatly impact the amount of disposable income farmers have to purchase new machinery and equipment and to build buildings or buy land. The more money there is made in farming, the more money gets released into the U.S. economy. But it takes more than that.

We must find the will for everyone to achieve. We need better jobs. We need to get people trained and educated to do those jobs! When I was running my construction business, one of my biggest constraints was finding people with the skills and “will” to work. Even the social fabric of our society played a role. Many employees would work until the state paperwork for child support caught up with them, and then they did not show up to work. I visited with a friend last week who is still involved in the construction, and his biggest challenge is finding people willing to do the work.

The spread in wealth brings to mind the story of Jack Ma, an entrepreneur from China. His company, Alibaba, went public last week. He worked hard and took a chance. He also had the knowledge and talent. Jack is now worth billions. Should we take away his incentive to dream big?

I know… Let’s allow tax policy to level the playing field as Senator Tom Harkin likes to say. After all, the Government is here to help you! I keep reading about all the programs USDA has to help the disadvantaged farmers get started.

Half of the people in this country are being subsidized by the other half! Keep this up, and we will take away even the most energetic worker’s will to succeed. If you take from one who is working and give to the one who isn’t working, doesn’t that limit the amount of work being done by both groups?

“When everybody owns something, nobody owns it, and nobody has a direct interest in maintaining or improving its condition. That is why buildings in the Soviet Union — like public housing in the United States — look decrepit within a year or two of their construction.”

Though Americans are famous for their healthy appetites, their food bill is proportionally low. In fact, Americans spend less for groceries than any other country in the world. The main reason food is so inexpensive here is because U.S. farmers are so productive.

Think of all the agricultural innovations in this country that have allowed 98% of our people to move off the farm and creating all creature comforts we enjoy in this modern age. If 70 or 80% of the populace were still needed to grow food, what would this country look like? Look no further than Uganda, Ukraine or any number of third world countries and you’d have an idea!

Not only do U.S. farmers grow enough food to make the USA the cheapest place to eat, we also grow energy and fiber. Without agriculture, everyone would be naked and hungry. Farming and ranching goes beyond providing food… It also provides more than ¼ of our workforce with steady employment. Twenty-three million jobs are associated with modern day agriculture.

So why is there almost this romantic back-to-nature obsession with organic farming? It all goes back to money. That’s why I’m beginning to wonder if our food in this country has become too cheap. Organic has long since become an ideology… it’s almost as though the food movement become a cult. A reported $63 billion is spent worldwide on organic foods.

There are those in the upper middle class that can obviously afford to pay for organic foods, but what about those who can’t? Think of those with lower incomes and the poor, who can get a lot more nutrients in their body from buying two regular carrots than they can for the price of one organic carrot. This is the type of challenge we face to feed planet that’s population will surge to 9 billion before the middle of the century!

Literally millions of people in poverty are starving to death or have serious health problems, yet some solutions are so simple. Severe Vitamin A deficiency results in blindness, and nearly 50% of the half-million children who are blinded by it die within a year. A new variety of rice can cure many of these problems, yet we’re letting fear of the unknown prohibit us from helping these poor people.

I know most people don’t give a rip whether people are starving in Africa because the American public has become so self-centered with little concern for anyone else. One in six Americans goes to bed, worrying if they’ll have enough to eat tomorrow.

People go hungry because abundant food, which has been proven over and over again to be safe, gets the same old fears thrown at it. There are no real real health benefits to organic and non-GMO foods. Studies prove it. A Stanford study found that organic foods were considerably less likely than conventional foods to have pesticide residues, although organic foods were higher in e. coli. Shouldn’t we be just as concerned by that?

Maybe I’m getting to emotionally involved, but I’m starting to get offended every time GMOs and “normal” agriculture. I’m not even sure what “normal” is anymore! And if I’m getting confused, what about people not involved in farming?

But back to my point… I read an article September 13 in my local newspaper about a local produce company. Locally grown. Certified organic. But the locally producer is quoted as saying, “When you see certified organic, that means no chemicals, no pesticides and no GMOs are used.”

I have a hard time believing this producer can make that statement. Plus, she’s asking for special treatment to be allowed to sell her produce in a city park on Main Street instead of at the local farmer’s market. Maybe my skin is just getting to thin, but I don’t understand why this producer should have special treatment.

As Rob Wallbridge, an organic farmer and consultant based in Western Quebec says, “If we haven’t already, we’re about to split into sects and factions, driven apart by ideological dogmas that have nothing to do with reality.”

Reality is that it’s going to take every farmer to feed the world by 2030. I’m in support of agriculture that improves the quality and quantity of food available throughout the world. Instead of splitting into factions and calling names, why not let the free market – instead of government regulations – decide what people want to buy?

To fully appreciate the capabilities of today’s 8-stack hybrids, we believe you must see how far corn breeding has come. The story of corn starts with wild teosinte, which doesn’t resemble today’s plants. Come see for yourself! At Latham’s Seed-2-Soil® Field Day in Alexander on Friday, September 19, you can walk through the history of corn, get a sneak peek of our 2015 product lineup plus watch a high-flying drone demonstration.

The Seed-to-Soil field day begins at 9 AM with field tours including a technology showcase plot with 40+ of the industry’s most innovative hybrids and varieties. See the unique interactions of 30+ corn hybrids with row spacing, population and stress wheel studies.

Chad Colby of AgTechTalk, one of the most respected and well-versed individuals in the UAV field, will demonstrate several types of drone technology. He will also share his experiences applying the technology to the farm.  Following the high-flying drone presentation, a drone sponsored by Greenleaf Genetics will be awarded to one lucky attendee.

Also at our field day on September 19, you’ll see how you can benefit from the 4 main components of Latham’s Seed-2-Soil program: (1) Crop Planning; (2) Nutrient Management; (3) Agronomic support; and (4) Seed Treatments.

Put September 19^th on your calendar for the Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Field Day in Alexander, beginning at 9 AM. To RSVP, call your local Latham® representative or dial 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1-877-465-2842).

The fight over food this past week seems to have stepped it up a notch! The Food Babe is all over my news feed for her views on some type of food or another. Last week she posted her findings from an “investigation” into Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. That post went viral and continues to be a hot topic.

Food fights have reached a new level, which brings to mind why I try so hard to listen and bridge the communication gap between consumers and producers. In Michele Payn-Knoper’s (pronounced “Pain – Ka-nope-r”) book, No More Food Fights, I’m quoted as saying, “A conversation must include listening. I need to know the concerns of people and to learn how they view what I do.”

While I listen to promote greater understanding of farming to consumers, many celebrities and well-known “experts” like Dr. Oz and influential businesses don’t. They knock different foods to promote ideas that get attention. The Food Babe would lose her fan base if she actually listened and understood. Stores like Whole Foods wouldn’t be in business unless some consumers could be persuaded to believe that ” mainstream products are bad for you.

The food conversation is no longer about the truth. It is about making money!

Wayne Pacelle, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), is another good example of someone who uses emotions to sway others’ thoughts and actions. His organization shows pictures of scared little kitties and abused dogs on late-night TV, and then asks you to donate $19/month. The truth is, HSUS uses emotion to raise money to pad retirement funds and to hire lobbyists.  Only one half of one percent of funds raised by HSUS goes toward animal care!

Now Pacelle is trying to impact how I raise pigs. He’s painting a picture of how horrible farmers like me treat pigs just so his organization is able to raise funds. For 50 years, I have continually tried to improve how I raise pigs. If it were as bad as Pacelle claims, I’d be out of business!

GMO is another buzzword. How many people have ever been harmed by GMOs? None! How many people are harmed every day because they don’t have access to GMOs? Literally millions… People who live in poverty suffer from Vitamin A deficiency resulting in compromised immune systems. Yet activists have let “fear of the unknown” trump pure facts. Somehow we must learn how to use science-based information with emotion!

We also must uncover scams. If we follow the money trail, we’ll find the activists’ motives. Not only is this true as it relates to food, but it also applies to the environment. There is so much misinformation about conservation and water quality. For example, CEO and General Manager of the Des Moines Water Works Bill Stowe seems to know all about how farmers are polluting the drinking water for Greater Des Moines. Just ask him! He can show you “proof” with all kinds of charts and graphs. Why? His objective is to secure more money for his operations. The worse he can make the water quality look, the more funds he can acquire!

Americans must read, listen and analyze. Question the “experts.” Examine multiple sources. Uncover the truth.  Don’t assume something you read on the internet is actually true. Consider the source — and the motive behind the source. Follow the money trail!

P.S. Farmers must enter the food conversation.

Guest blog by April Hemmes, who farms south of Hampton in Franklin County Iowa

World traveling farmer reporting in to The Field Position! My latest adventure took me to China.

It all started back in January when my husband brought me the Farm Bureau Spokesman and said, “They’re taking a trip to China, and you need to apply for it. All they want you to do is talk about the trip when you get home. I think they would get their money’s worth out of you!”

I applied, never thinking in a million years they would pick me. Then in late February, I got the news that I was one of 18 farmers chosen! The trip was sponsored by Iowa Farm Bureau, and we paid a portion of our own way.

In late June, 11 men, 7 women and 2 Farm Bureau staff members took off for China. We ranged in age from 26 – 74. It was a pretty diverse group, but like I say, when you put a bunch of farmers together you always have a good time.

We flew into Beijing with stops at a wholesale produce and a meat market, plus the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Grains Council and Meats Council. Our last day in Beijing started with a meeting at the Ministry of Science and Technology. Teachers and researchers of Agricultural subjects met with us and we spoke about agriculture in China and how they inform farmers of research they have done. The quote I came away with was that they don’t tell farmers what to plant but they “ spare no effort” to suggest what crops would be best for the farmers to plant. I know what I would think if anyone “strongly suggested” what I should plant!

A few take-away from our visit include:

• Nearly 90% of the crops are still grown on small farms. A little more than half an acre is the average farm size.
• A large farm is thought to be 25 acres. The Chinese Government wants to increase the size of farms, so there is a need to move the farmers into the city. We saw high-rise apartment complexes being built in the middle of nowhere. I had heard about this but seeing it with my own eyes just confirmed it for me.

My favorite part of visiting Beijing was getting to see my brother-in-law and sister-in-law! My husbands’ brother, Jim, lives in Beijing and has for 7 years. His wife, Jackie, was born in Shanghai. She went to school at Arizona State University and is now an American citizen. Jackie works in finance and is very involved in a group of women leaders in China. They organized a night where we had a panel of Americans and others doing business in China, telling us what that involved. We also had a panel of women leaders in different areas telling about their experiences and what it was like for women working in China. I was very fortunate to be involved in that panel!

From Beijing, we set off for Heibei Province. Heibei is the sister state to Iowa. Our final destination in the province is Shijiazhuang, which is the sister city of Des Moines. Iowa and Heibei Province have had leaders visiting for over 30 years. The President of China , Xi Jinping, has been to Iowa several times. We were treated like dignitaries here and had several interesting stops including a corn processing plant, dairy and milk processing plant along with the local agriculture college.

Our last stop was the province of Jilin. It is in the North East part of China, but it reminded us all of home with a lot of cornfields and a climate much like ours. Local dignitaries met us here, too, and followed us throughout our stay. One of our visits was to a farm where 5 producers went together and farm 1,500 acres.

Remember, each landowner has around a ½ to 1 acre of ground, so they worked with a lot of owners! They also hire 36 employees for the farm. They couldn’t believe it when we said we would have about 2 or three people to work that amount of ground. They still pick in ear corn and store it that way. The government pays them $9.50 a bushel for their corn. This is a communist state, so there is no open market for grain trading. It is $2/bushel cheaper for the livestock feeders there to import corn from America than it is to feed the lower quality corn stored in China.

Because it is a communist state, we only saw what they wanted us to see. No random stops were made along the way. Our group quickly realized that the nature of the trip was a market study tour and had changed to a networking /diplomatic trip. But that was just fine with all of us and we made the best of it.

There was never a dull moment or lack of discussion during our meetings and banquets. As a result of the contact we made, three Chinese groups have contacted the Iowa Farm Bureau about visiting our state! This is great news and makes for a successful trip.

It wasn’t all work on our trip, however. We did some cultural sightseeing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Olympic Table Tennis center, ancient monasteries, silk and pearl markets and one of the largest shopping malls in the world. All of which were amazing and wonderful to experience!

It was truly an honor to go on this trip and I would highly recommend anyone to apply for this trip next year. Look in your Farm Bureau Spokesman around January for details. I made life-long friends, not only with the Iowa farmers with whom I shared this wonderful adventure, but in China as well.