281–290 of 341 posts
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> In the meantime, the well-watered, prime farm I worked on as a teen had most of the topsoil stripped and sold, and there is a subdivision with 40-50 houses on it. Americans are addicted to (boring) houses in the suburbs and cars, it's such a shame.
One man's boring is another man's idyllic.
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You seem to equate hard work ethic with sustainability, this is false. You obviously have never experienced the joys of winters with nothing todo except read, learn, cook and play, because you worked insanely hard on the farm for 6-8 months of the growing season (being your own boss, but who cares about that).
I can't speak categorically, but I grew up around farmers (dairy, pigs, & crops) I've never known a farmer who took the winter off. Winters would be spent repairing and upgrading equipment, and prepping for the upcoming season, not just lazing around.
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I think we’ve generally agreed that slavery is morally wrong and people should be paid for their work.
> I think we’ve generally agreed that slavery is morally wrong and people should be paid for their work. This is a non sequitur? Slaves are all, without exception, paid for their work. In most cases, though with some exceptions, they're paid at least partially in currency.
The gp said the problem was the price.
> Slaves are all, without exception, paid for their work.
My understanding of slavery and “[being] paid” is substantially different than yours.
> In most cases, though with some exceptions, they're paid at least partially in currency.
I’m not sure this is true either, but contributing food and housing for slaves is not in any sense paying them, but maintaining them as property, since food and housing is a necessary expense (they wouldn’t be functional slaves otherwise). Its more akin to maintenance on machines.
I think what you’re getting at is that while their labor is compelled, they are somehow compensated for it. Is that a fair statement of your assertion?
As a vegan, I am concerned about the cruel treatment of farm animals. Losing family farms only aggravates the problem in this price race against the bigger actors in dairy production. While dairy is not strictly necessary for grown ups, I recognise that it will be present for some time so we should care about how it is produced. Dairy should be more expensive than it is now, similar to what happens to meat.
As a human who is concerned with the treatment of bull (male) calfs born on dairy farms and their treatment for the production of veal, I have absolutely no clue why being a vegan has any pertinence. Why is it such common practice to insufferably proclaim one's ethos as a vegan? In all seriousness, the conditions under which bull calfs for veal production is abhorrent, and I have great difficulty in balance sympathy…
I think he's glossing over the obvious. A friend of mine was just reminiscing about growing up in her family's dairy farm. Every Saturday morning, every Sunday morning, every Christmas you get up to take care of the cows. Feel sick? You've got to get up and take care of the cows. Want to go on vacation? Can't, there's no one you can leave the cows with. It's a hard life - maybe a satisfying life in some ways but ther…
I always joke with people that farming is a great half time job, just pick which 12 hours you want to work. I also think the only people that want to start farming are those that have never done it.
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Don't forget rBGH.[0] Canada and the EU banned it, but thanks to big Pharma, you can get still get hormone adulterated milk in the US of A. [0] https://www.organicvalley.coop/blog/rBGH-decoded-what-is-bov...
I'm opposed to the use of rBGH. Stating falsehoods doesn't help the cause. The absence of evidence that rBGH ends up in milk isn't for lack of trying to find it. I get organic milk because it tastes better. I suspect that means it's more nutritious, and further suspect that's because of the growth hormone, not the absence of some pesticides (but not others!) in the feed. To preemptively correct a misconception which…
Organic milk is often UHT pasteurized which gives it a slightly scalded flavor. That might be what your tasting, rather than any nutritional difference.
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>>> In addition, human trafficking has become common practice in many cheap labor industries, to the point where the police has stopped investigating because otherwise they would have no resources to spend on areas which are more politically valuable. I'm sorry what.
It was in the local news a year or so back. If they go to any construction site, they will find so many cases that they won't have resources to do any other work related investigations for the rest of the year. As such they decided to stop doing it for the unforeseen future. From the politicians, they mostly want the companies to self regulate. Human trafficking for labor is costly to enforce and is not something whi…
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To my knowledge there are still functional family dairy farms here in Ontario. And the cost of milk, about $4.80 (Canadian) for 4L, and butter (hovering between $3 and $6 per pound - we buy it on special, it stores well in the freezer) is really not an issue even for our family of four. So far so good. I'm glad to pay it if it keeps family farms in business. I grew up on a dairy farm in Germany (in the pre-quota days…
>All in all, you can drive around in Ontario's farm belts and they still look pretty traditionally prosperous. We must be doing something right. By having laws that force consumers to subsidize the businesses of special interests?
On one point the article has made. Canadians are really really unhappy with their milk system, they have some of the highest priced milk in the entire world and they despise it. "probably through a supply management program similar to what Canada has" is a nonstarter for cityfolk. It would mean $4 milk.
In Singapore, a liter (not gallon) of fresh milk starts from about $3. Then again, neither the Chinese nor Malay populace historically drinks the stuff.
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I think you mean if you are willing to buy it regularly without sampling. We bought a few brands prior to our current buying pattern. I am not willing to buy milk without sampling. Currently we have two that we like. Basically, one has extra fat added, but the other comes in a reusable (literally return for reuse) glass bottle. If only I could get both.
> Basically, one has extra fat added, but the other comes in a reusable (literally return for reuse) glass bottle. If only I could get both. Presumably you can get half-and-half in glass bottles, if you really want?