What about the Farmers?

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Ok, I live ina rural area, and the topic has come up about what the military will do during y2k, and our main security concerns are: #1 starving neighbors/beggars #2 rogue military units #3 repressive martial law

Most farmers DGI, I know that, but what do the troops/vets think? I don't have any illusions about fighting a guerrilla war against our army, or any other one, the VC took 70% casualties in the tet offensive, not very encouraging. But it seems to me that farmers will be an asset to the gov, why would they kill us off? Wouldn't they protect us? Or would they collectivize us? (Sort of like: we'll protect you from marauders, but know you WORK for US.. BWahahahahaha!!) that's doesn't seem like a very cool fate either. maybe i'm being paranoid, but a military force will kill off militiamen and farmers like cats kill mice.

-- y2krap (Frightened@shitless.org), October 19, 1999

Answers

I'm a full time farmer and I don't know one that is a GI. Of course farmers are an asset. They will produce like crazy for minimal returns. But most won't kiss anyones ass so they probably will be exteminated. You know, like Stalin did. To this day they can't feed themselves.

-- Harvey Wilson (harv@hotmail.com), October 19, 1999.

Sincerely and most truthfully, I think you're fretting for nothing. In cities like L.A. which has hundreds of thousands in the 18th Street gang alone no one is going to bother you out in the sticks. It'll take everything the law enforcement agencies and militaries have to control the urban areas. I do think you're at risk for civilian desperation. That means your fate is in the hands of the local Sheriff who is probably doing cart wheels he/she didn't accept the job in L.A.

There will not be rogue military units. There aren't enough units to be rogue. Oppressive martial law will depend on your habits, your choices and your location. If your habit is to drive down every night, with the boom box screeching, into L.A. without valid reason for doing so, you might find yourself under oppression.

There aren't any plans to kill off the farmers that I am aware of, there aren't any plans to bring farmers into a commune (Good heavens Bill Clinton himself spoke of how the nation must preserve its family owned farms!), and I am also not aware of any plans to pick off members of the militia just for being members of a militia. (I think it was Florida that began to absorb militias into its National Guard proper.)

I do not make any claim to know it all. What I have stated is what my own conclusions are based on various readings I have done.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), October 19, 1999.


I will agree that most farmers and ranchers I work with are "clueless" about y2k as relates to their business. In these parts, however, there are some that are making half-way gestures at personal preparation.

I would agree that they are an independent ornery lot, particularly ranchers - God bless them. Despite the Sagebrush rebellion, and the like, farmers and ranchers are the most hard-working law abiding people you will ever have the privilege to know. It is their curse that many have reached a point where they are unable to obey in today's current regulatory nightmare and still survive.

As for what will happen after the turning of y2k, one might recall that the average age of a farmer is in his mid-50s and ranchers average around 60 years of age. If the government pushes too hard, the farmer or rancher may just "retire early." It is already happening due to other problems and pressures upon the industry. As a group, farmers are prone to be caring people and the younger ones would probably work their butt off to save others.

I do find it interesting that the administration has accelerated its push to federalize more and more land and resources and to lock these up from multiple use through executive orders and regulatory initiative. Next week the administration and the USDA begins dialogue on an increased push to proliferate federal programs on private land.

When the federal government controls massive resources, the steps toward state farms and timber operations is just around the corner.

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), October 19, 1999.


They will be forced to 'collectivize' us, as you suggested. The result will be anyone's guess. They won't exactly be dealing with street punks out here, however they will be dealing with life-long law-abiding citizens.

It'll be that 'old' patriotic view that they'd better be concerned about. 50-60 years old ain't old. It's 'seasoned'. Beware. These old boys could out work most 20 year olds I've seen and they're a helluva lot smarter. Light years........

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), October 19, 1999.


Ooooooh baby. I'll take a barn full of 55 year old Viet Nam vets, who actually work for a living, over a bunch of 20 year old fast food employees, looking for the next party with raging hormones, who've never even heard of John McCain, and would have to rush a front line with one hand holdin' up their baggy pants and the other hand on a weapon they've never used before, ANYDAY. You betcha.

(especially if one of them looked like Sean Connery with or without hair)

:)

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), October 19, 1999.



on a serious note--i was concerned about farmers because of the problems inherent in Y2K if they prepared and now I am even more concerned because they don't seem to be preparing, if what you say is true.

earlier in the year, i asked a Y2K supplier why everyone is buying raw grains to which she replied, "i am the daughter of a farmer and my husband is a commodities dealer, we are very concerned about the effect of y2k on the food supply. if the farmers can't get their crops in during the spring because of problems with machinery, inability to get seed or fuel, they won't be able to plant. that means there will be food shortages beginning in fall of 2000." also, if you remember the stories of the ice storm--farmers have lots of microprocessors running daily operations. if farmers can't milk cows the cows can die from what i read. sounds like farmers may need more hands (volunteers) to help out if things go south.

-- tt (cuddluppy@yahoo.com), October 19, 1999.


As long as farmers get fuel, spare parts, seed, and fertizer, they will be planting and harvesting their crops. The task for the govenment is to insure that they get the needed supplies. If the needed supplies are not there, then there will be no crops harvested. This does not mean we well starve. Most of the grain in this country is grown for animal feed. It is much easier to get a bushel of wheat to the city than to get a chicken processed and on ice to the city. Much of our meat production will take a major hit if there is distruptings in the energy supplies, but there is enough grain to feed us for 10 years in storage if we stop feeding it to animals. True, life will not be as good if we do not have our Quarter Pounder with cheese everyday, but hey, life will go on with McDonalds. The question is not if the governement will take over farms, tlhe question is will the farms have energy (elec. and fuel) or not. With out energy going to the farms, then they are just a buch of fallow land.

-- chicken farmer (chicken-farmer@ y2k.farm), October 19, 1999.

Paula,

I don't mean to be a nitpicker, but again you've come up with this"...In cities like L.A. which has hundreds of thousands in the 18th Street gang alone." statement. COME AGAIN!! HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS! Am I missing something, or is this figure a wee bit exagerated?

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), October 19, 1999.


* * * 19991019 Tuesday

ALL:

The only post-Y2K farmers that will survive are those that have prepared in advance with heritage/non-hybrid seed crops!

Without conglomerate agri-business, there is no mass-producer source for crop seed!

How's that for human foible and folly?!

Regards, Bob Mangus

* * *

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus@hotmail.com), October 19, 1999.


Now I suppose these numbers may be off a bit but who really knows..

In Los Angeles the 18th Street gang is considered the largest gang in Los Angeles County. It is estimated that there are close to 20,000 members, most of them Mexican and Chicanos males. Some estimates are as low as 8,000, but this low estimate still makes them the largest gang in the county. The 18th Street Gang is actually a collection of several smaller gangs, making them the most fragmented gang in the County. The individual factions can number from 50 to several hundred members each. Factions of the 18th Streets are dispersed throughout the county in San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley, the South Bay, South Los Angeles, and Downtown Los Angeles just to name a few.

Certain factions in South Los Angeles are fueding with Black gangs, such as the Black P Stones from the West Adams area and the Black P Stones from the Jungles of Los Angeles. They have also been fueding with the NeighborHood Rollin 20s Blood.

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), October 19, 1999.



I am a farmer. Saturday I found two one inch diameter blue reflective circles pasted side by side on the sign (private property) designating the name of my farm. Three possibilities are : gun owner, y2k food storage, or a signal to garbage men to search my garbage because I have many friends in the Ohio Militia.Or, maybe a 4th possibility a signal to the martial law guys to seize the farm according to Bill's executive orders in time of emergency.Any other farmers see anything like this? Better start noticing. Today my farm helper said a white van with a blinking light on top came up aour lane and backed out again. I had removed the blue circles on Sat. I will see if they reappear.

-- Betty Alice (Barn266@aol.com), October 19, 1999.

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