The American farm economy is in turmoil. Bo Mason recently hosted NBC News correspondent Ellison Barber on his Monroe County farm to share his story, discussing the devastating reality of the current farm economy.
“My son’s out here, he’s 17 years old. He came to me earlier this year, ‘Daddy I think I may want to farm.’ And I’m like, ‘No son’, point blank I said, ‘I don’t want you to farm,’” said Mason.
A perfect storm of extreme weather impacts, high production costs, low commodity prices and trade issues has unleashed uncertainty on the future of many Arkansas farmers. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture estimates Arkansas could lose as many as one third of Arkansas farms this year, setting up a potential dire situation for farmers and consumers in the state.
As harvest continues, farmers across Arkansas and beyond need immediate help to continue growing the nation’s food.