American progressives who join international supporters in praising the promotion of “sustainability,” along with other causes, are turning a blind eye to the harm that their policies are currently causing in American agriculture, according to farmers who spoke to Fox News.
The FFA and other nationwide organizations are thriving, and state-level events such as the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show and Iowa State Fair still attract participants and visitors. However, two guests on “The Ingraham Angle” cautioned this week that there are concerning indications beneath the surface.
Global “green” initiatives, along with inflation and increasing expenses, have resulted in reduced livestock numbers, and in certain cases, farms being foreclosed or closed completely, which could lead to a potential food crisis domestically, according to them.
“Every day, farmers are going out of business,” noted John Boyd Jr., the creator of the Black Farmers of America.
“The depletion of herds by America’s beef cattle producers is leading to a decrease in calf production, hindering their ability to multiply.”
Boyd mentioned that he had made the request on your network multiple times. He had previously attempted to enter politics in 2000 as a Democrat, but was unsuccessful. During that time, he competed against then-Rep. Virgil Goode, I-Va.
Boyd, a farmer who cultivates soybeans, grain, and cattle in Boydton, Va., a small town located between South Boston and South Hill, cautioned that Black farmers like himself are at risk of disappearing due to unfavorable public policies and increased input expenses.
He mentioned that the increase in diesel fuel prices in recent years is one instance of the financial difficulties experienced by areas such as his.
Furthermore, host Laura Ingraham referenced news reports such as a recent PBS investigation into what it termed as concerning methane emissions from cattle due to their “high-fiber diet.”
The public broadcaster stated that beef is considered to be one of the least environmentally friendly sources of food due to its impact on the climate.
She also highlighted Biden’s Climate Czar John Kerry, a previous Democratic senator from Massachusetts, who recently stated overseas that agriculture supposedly accounts for one-third of all detrimental emissions. The host noted that this implies a worldwide effort to reduce emissions, potentially leading to a reduction in the agricultural sector itself.
Ingraham stated that the U.S. cattle population has not been as low as it is now since Kerry was famously testifying before Congress about the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. She also mentioned that the adverse effects of the policies of the elites are intentional.
Shad Sullivan, a rancher located in Olney, a small town south of Wichita Falls, Texas, emphasized that globalism is the primary concern.
According to Sullivan, the issue lies with the global elites who advocate for climate change as a global crisis and push for sustainability, which essentially entails control over production and consumption worldwide.
Sullivan pointed out that this trend is widespread and is leading to increased vertical integration within their system. He believes that the beef cattle industry represents the last stronghold of freedom.
He believes it is time to take decisive action to prevent global elites from imposing sustainability regulations that could severely impact Western agriculture, particularly by falsely portraying cattle as a threat to the world.
Sullivan cautioned that large agricultural companies are already exploring alternative food sources such as insects like crickets, as potential substitutes for beef and pork. He referenced a report stating that Tyson Foods, a major poultry producer, recently invested in a Dutch insect ingredient maker.
However, Tyson CFO John Tyson clarified in comments to CNN that the company’s primary focus is on using insect protein as an ingredient rather than targeting consumers directly.
Sullivan later expressed that these issues are fundamentally about liberty and freedom. He emphasized the need to address these concerns and put a stop to the current trajectory.