They’re rich in assets. Land and equipment is valuable. There are lots of farms that don’t make a cent while others are insanely well off. The well off farms get government subsidies just like the poor farmers.
Almost all subsidies go to the big corporations that have bought up these independant farmers and often rented them the land back sharecropping them in effect. John Oliver did a thing on subsidies on one of his shows, I’ve read things elsewhere too, it’s all gamed by the big gateholding corporations that have been squeezing everyone else, especially the landowning farmers, to get their land.
The wealth comes from the fact that there’s a lot less farmers than there used to be. Every failed farm means more land for whoever snatches up that land.
The poor family farms will be gobbled up by rich farmers or corporations. Consolidation of farms is just like all the other consolidation in our economy.
They’re rich in assets. Land and equipment is valuable. There are lots of farms that don’t make a cent while others are insanely well off. The well off farms get government subsidies just like the poor farmers.
Almost all subsidies go to the big corporations that have bought up these independant farmers and often rented them the land back sharecropping them in effect. John Oliver did a thing on subsidies on one of his shows, I’ve read things elsewhere too, it’s all gamed by the big gateholding corporations that have been squeezing everyone else, especially the landowning farmers, to get their land.
Where did the money for the farm equipment come from? Likely debt, often still being paid.
If wealthy farmers were common, we’d have a lot more farmers
Loans and debt are how nearly every business operates.
The wealth comes from the fact that there’s a lot less farmers than there used to be. Every failed farm means more land for whoever snatches up that land.
The poor family farms will be gobbled up by rich farmers or corporations. Consolidation of farms is just like all the other consolidation in our economy.