Corn Crops in South Carolina

Todays paper informed me about my own questions raised yesterday in the "Misc Food Related Thread" about local corn crops being grown in my area...(Which is Horry County/Myrtle Beach area)
Now, I have an answer to my own question...
Corn fields are abundant here,along with many other crops......Including one the ones across the street from my house.. There are corn and tobacco fields that I pass by.....
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/124804.html

quote:

Originally posted by roossy90

Todays paper informed me about my own questions raised yesterday in the "Side Order Thread" about local corn crops being grown in my area...
Now, I have an answer to my own question...
Corn fields are abundant here..Icluding one right across the street from my house.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/124804.html

Rossy: good to see you back in action. My question is that it seems that most are planting field corn for ethanol vs sweet corn for consumption? What is your thoughts on that.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul,
Thank you..
It seems the farmers have had rough times, and if they can survive by selling their crops for the most money, then Bless Them.
I am all for it. I can get my corn/veggie from other places, even if it means higher prices.
It seems that most farmers here in the area are selling out to developers for new home construction, and I applaud the ones sticking it out and carrying on their family traditions!

Every corner you turn here, there are signs for re-zoning and many fields have gone the way of the concrete jungle. There are about 8 new developments going on within a 5/10 mile radius of me, I would say.
I love nature, and hate to see it being bulldozed. There are more and more bear sightings in the Myrtle Beach area, and I would hate to see the bunny rabbits in my neighborhood that come out at dusk and dawn disappear...There is a creek behind me and yesterday, I saw a turtle in my yard that had apparently crawled up the 10 foot bank looking for something... It is already happened in other major cities. You hear stories all the time of wild animals losing their terrain to development, and searching for food that is no longer there.
But that again, is a whole other subject.
(please note my changes in my OP)

We've got a local part-time farmer, he is a county extension agent full-time, that grows u-pick corn and tomatoes. He does great work. I'm all for farmers getting as much money as they can for their crops. It bothers me to pay almost $5 for a gallon of milk knowing that the farmer probably got a tenth of that. I understand the costs of the middle man in packaging and marketing and transportation, but I hate the fact that farmers don't get more. I hate to see the disappearing farm land all over South Carolina (I'm about an hour inland from Roossy.) I would love to see more local farmer's markets and roadside stands with farmers selling their produce.

We used to have alot of farm land in my area.. But then came the developers, then the property costs went thru the roof.. I wish we turn back the clock 20 or 30 years and have more of this valuable land available for production vs. energy consuming homes.

Land is relatively cheap here, or has been for a long time, and you couple that with developers who just do what's going to turn the quickest buck and a local government that's loathe to get in their way or force them to engage in any kind of planning at all, and you get what we have now. I'm sure the ethanol corn is just somebody trying to get in front of what they think will be a trend.

I was with my Whole Foods friend yesterday in NC, and they've started labeling local produce and plants, etc. in the store so people can seek them out. There's also a city farmer's market every Wednesday that's restricted to growers and producers within a tight local radius. We haven't really gotten on that bandwagon either but we should.

quote:

Originally posted by scbuzz

We've got a local part-time farmer, he is a county extension agent full-time, that grows u-pick corn and tomatoes. He does great work. I'm all for farmers getting as much money as they can for their crops. It bothers me to pay almost $5 for a gallon of milk knowing that the farmer probably got a tenth of that. I understand the costs of the middle man in packaging and marketing and transportation, but I hate the fact that farmers don't get more. I hate to see the disappearing farm land all over South Carolina (I'm about an hour inland from Roossy.) I would love to see more local farmer's markets and roadside stands with farmers selling their produce.

You know what I mean. I am sure you see the same rezoning signs in front of farm lands...
People gotta do what they need to do financially.
You cant blame them for getting the most for their money, especially when they cant even come close to geting money for crops as opposed to money for bare land for housing.
I am sure its a major dilemma for many farm/land owners.. They must decide if they are better off selling off for the highest price, and giving up their dream of passing on the family homestead to the kids, or making the best of getting the cash and passing that on.
It is a hard thing for farmers nowadays to give up their family land and pastime/living. I am sure there have been many family discussions, heated, trying to decide what is best for everyone, and kicking themselves in the bootie for selling out.
But sometimes you gotta do what is the best for yourself.. Thats why I say, I applaud the ones that stick it out and still put their fingers and toes in the earth. But I am also sympathic with those that HAVE to sell out.
I am sure they cry every night knowing that Blood sweat and tears are underneath those new homes on their family homesteads......(insert crying smily here)