May 21, 2008 6:30 pm US/Eastern
Local Farming Industry Takes A Hit
BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (CBS 3) ―
As a profession, farming has never been easy, but now it's harder that ever.
"To be a farmer is a chore," said farmer Myron Kressman.
Kressman, a 7th generation farmer, says with fertilizer and fuel costs double what they were last year, it is hard to break even.
"We put in long days and long hours and the return is not always there," said Kressman.
The lack of profits has many local farmers selling their farms or taking on a second job. They can't raise prices that much because they face stiff competition from grocery stores.
"They have the bigness, they are the giant," said Kressman.
People shopping at Trauger's farm market say it is sad that so many farms are disappearing, but they understand why.
"Either people have to be willing to pay enough for the farmers to make a living or the farms go away," said shopper Janet Beroze.
Even Delaware Valley College's farmers market, which used to be open year round, has been closed since December. They are looking to reopen in August.
"The biggest challenge to farmers is to become a businessman more than just a farmer, they have to understand the dynamics of the marketplace which is big challenge for the small to medium size farms," said Tom Kennedy of Delaware Valley College.
So farmers are asking people to please shop at their markets because right now they really need the business and this gives hope to future farmers like 5 month old Clayton, who if Myron has his way, will become a 9th generation farmer here in Bucks County.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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