In just over a decade, farmers have withstood a thousand-year flood, drought, hurricanes, army worms, tornadoes… Now we’re facing a storm of a different kind. Since the beginning of February, some of our most critical inputs – fuel and fertilizer – have skyrocketed in price, something none of us expected or could’ve planned for. This is in addition to the looming cloud of an out of balance input-to-income ratio that has left this state’s farmers more than $700M short over the last two years.
A recent survey done by American Farm Bureau showed that three quarters of farmers in South Carolina can’t afford to buy fertilizer. Even more startling, the survey found that 94% of farmers say their financial position has not improved since last year with more than half saying it has gotten worse. That doesn’t come as a surprise to us though; we’re still selling our commodities for 1990’s prices while the inputs it takes to grow that crops have gone up hundreds of dollars per acre.
The farm financial crisis has been growing over the last decade and unchecked, the imbalance could lead to a total collapse of the farm economy. There is no denying that farmers are in a dire situation with many confronting the decision we never want to make. The implications are far greater than just a few less farms. These farms are the DNA of rural South Carolina. They fuel our communities. And the food and fiber they grow are integral to our security as a nation. Food security is national security.
So many people ask, “why do you do it?” Why risk it all year after year. It all comes down to one thing: hope. Hope for good markets and good weather. Hope for a strong harvest. Hope that provides for every family across this state and nation.
Now we have a bit of hope beyond our fields. The South Carolina Senate heard our farmers asking for help and they took action including the Farm Financial Crisis program in their version of the budget. The House of Representatives has the chance to do the same. This program won’t make anyone whole or fix years of disproportionate inputs and incomes, but it will be a bridge to help our farmers get a crop in the ground.
Asking for help isn’t easy. I am thankful that the South Carolina Senate listened and hope our House members will do the same. The farm financial crisis has put the largest industry in our state at great risk. Without help, this industry and the all communities it supports will not survive.