Farmers in an uproar - local production or free trade?

[Vestr-Norig]

Few days ago, the Norwegian government announced the new transmissions to the Norwegian farmers.The government claimed that these transmissions were historicalyl high, yet, the farmers were far from pleased. And with good reasons. In 1987, farmers got 46 kroner per kilo for porkchop. In 2012, they only got 24 (estimated after today's prices). This is happening with all agricultural goods. Norwegian farmers has some of the lowest income in Norway, and for many it is impossible to feed themselves only on farming. Farmers all over Norway is taking action, demonstrating against injustice. 9/10 of Norwegians has said that they want to pay more to maintain the Norwegian agriculture. Yet, the politicians refuse to do so. More and more farms is being cloused, and Norway, as with the rest of the West, is being more and more dependent on foreign countries. And the EEA (EU) and the WTO is not making it easier for the local farmers, demanding trade restrictions to be loosened up, and free-trade to be expanded.

But why is it so bad that Norwegian farming is dying? I'll tell you why. Firstly, local production of food is more substainable than if you'll have to transport the food all across the globe. If there was to be a crisis, Norway would not be able to feed its own population. We would starve. The world needs more food production, not less. Lastly, it would destroy the cultural landscape, and people would be forced to leave the countryside, if farming dyes out. Less people on the countryside, would mean less tourism to Norway, as people is coming to see the countryside (in the West), not the cities. Not to mention all the important food traditions of Norway. It would be sad, to eat Ribbe from foreign sheeps on Christmas eve.

What is your thoughts on the issue? If you'd like, you may angle your answear to the conditions of the country you are living in.

Sources (in Norwegian):
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.8139845
http://nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/troms_og ... /1.8140547
http://www.itromso.no/nyheter/article546607.ece
http://www.nationen.no/2012/05/15/landb ... l/7432915/

[Ovisterra]

I'll decide when I see a source.

[Vestr-Norig]

I'll decide when I see a source.

Sure, If you read Norwegian, I'll find them all.

[Laerod]

What is your thoughts on the issue? If you'd like, you may angle your answear to the conditions of the country you are living in.

We have similar issues in Germany, though here we have the EU subsidizing agriculture and we realize the people to blame for the low prices are, well, the supermarket and discount chains.

[Ovisterra]

I'll decide when I see a source.

Sure, If you read Norwegian, I'll find them all.

Indeed, do go ahead.

[Laerod]

I'll decide when I see a source.

Sure, If you read Norwegian, I'll find them all.

When all I have is German language sources, I typically link to them and then provide a rough translation for the forum.

[Vestr-Norig]

Sure, If you read Norwegian, I'll find them all.

When all I have is German language sources, I typically link to them and then provide a rough translation for the forum.

You'll have to use google translate.

[Ifreann]

Sure, If you read Norwegian, I'll find them all.

When all I have is German language sources, I typically link to them and then provide a rough translation for the forum.

I'd be sorely tempted to just make up a joke translation and see how long it took another German speaker(or someone who wanted to brave Google translate) to notice.

[Cosmopoles]

If 9/10 Norwegians want to pay more for food, why are the farmers struggling?

[Blazedtown]

I don't know anything about the Norwegian farming system. When you say the government only gives them 24 Kroner for a kilo of pork, does that mean the government is fixing the prices or is that the subsidy they are paid by the government?

[Cosmopoles]

I'd have thought Norwegians of all people would realised that local production doesn't mean food security...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16170808

[Vestr-Norig]

If 9/10 Norwegians want to pay more for food, why are the farmers struggling?

Because when the prices on food rises, the big buisnesses who sell the food to the customers get all the money. Also, the politicians do not want to give more of the budget to the farmers, while the WTO and the EU is demanding free trade to be expanded and barriers to be reduced. The farmers simply cannot compete with foreign imported products.

[Cosmopoles]

Because when the prices on food rises, the big buisnesses who sell the food to the customers get all the money. Also, the politicians do not want to give more of the budget to the farmers, while the WTO and the EU is demanding free trade to be expanded and barriers to be reduced. The farmers simply cannot compete with foreign export products.

Are you telling me there are no small shops or farmers markets in Norway selling local produce at higher prices?

[Vestr-Norig]

Because when the prices on food rises, the big buisnesses who sell the food to the customers get all the money. Also, the politicians do not want to give more of the budget to the farmers, while the WTO and the EU is demanding free trade to be expanded and barriers to be reduced. The farmers simply cannot compete with foreign export products.

Are you telling me there are no small shops or farmers markets in Norway selling local produce at higher prices?

Small shops? Some very few. Farmer's markets? Barely none. The farmers is dependent on the big buisnesses, to sell their products.

[Laerod]

If 9/10 Norwegians want to pay more for food, why are the farmers struggling?

It's the stores that set the prices.

[Cosmopoles]

Are you telling me there are no small shops or farmers markets in Norway selling local produce at higher prices?

Small shops? Some very few. Farmer's markets? Barely none. The farmers is dependent on the big buisnesses, to sell their products.

Yeah, but why? I'm presuming that those supermarkets replaced some other means of buying food.

[Divair]

If 9/10 Norwegians want to pay more for food, why are the farmers struggling?

It's the stores that set the prices.

Well, then how about communal farmer supermarkets?

Let the farmers group up and control their own supermarket.

[Vestr-Norig]

Small shops? Some very few. Farmer's markets? Barely none. The farmers is dependent on the big buisnesses, to sell their products.

Yeah, but why? I'm presuming that those supermarkets replaced some other means of buying food.

For some reason, the most important thing for many Norwegians, is that the prices is low. Yes, they may say that they want to buy more Norwegian food, and that they may want to pay even more for local products, but in the end, when they go to the stores, they buy the cheapest food there is. Which is often imported food.

[Cosmopoles]

Yeah, but why? I'm presuming that those supermarkets replaced some other means of buying food.

For some reason, the most important thing for many Norwegians, is that the prices is low. Yes, they may say that they want to buy more Norwegian food, and that they may want to pay even more for local products, but in the end, when they go to the stores, they buy the cheapest food there is. Which is often imported food.

That's my point. They say that they want to pay more but when the opporunity presented itself they didn't.

[Rosemary and Thyme]

SHOCK HORROR!!

[Vestr-Norig]

For some reason, the most important thing for many Norwegians, is that the prices is low. Yes, they may say that they want to buy more Norwegian food, and that they may want to pay even more for local products, but in the end, when they go to the stores, they buy the cheapest food there is. Which is often imported food.

That's my point. They say that they want to pay more but when the opporunity presented itself they didn't.

Much of the blame still is on the supermarkets. They want to import as muc as possible, while paying as low as possible to the farmers. Even if people bought more Norwegian products, the supermarkets still would make an excuse for keeping the moeny, and not paying more for the food they buy.

[Chinese Regions]

It's the stores that set the prices.

Well, then how about communal farmer supermarkets?

Let the farmers group up and control their own supermarket.

Norwegian Co-op

[Cosmopoles]

That's my point. They say that they want to pay more but when the opporunity presented itself they didn't.

Much of the blame still is on the supermarkets. They want to import as muc as possible, while paying as low as possible to the farmers. Even if people bought more Norwegian products, the supermarkets still would make an excuse for keeping the moeny, and not paying more for the food they buy.

Well no, of course they don't. The supermarkets are no more inclined to pay over the odds to get a fuzzy feeling than the consumers are.

[The Disturbed]

For those who have studied the American Great Depression, the answer should obviously not be "tightening tariffs". The Smoot-Hawley Tariff in the 1930s made the economy even worse then it was before and had the opposite affect then was intended. If a nation increases export prices to other countries then in return, that country will increase prices to that country. This will increase prices for both countries. This will leave the poor even poorer than before.

[Alternate Universe 912]

I sort of see this as a question of which is the more important, Norway's food dependency, or its economy?

If you're willing to punt on the economy and local demand for exotic food for the sake of tradition and security, I'd drop taxes and subsidies on farmers and raise tarriffs through the roof - in effect "wall off" the food market, and let the local markets determine the price of food.

Otherwise, I'd say, lower tariffs, subsidies, and taxes on farmers, then force the supermarkets to compete with importers and farmer's markets. But that's because I'm a "moderate libertarian" (I live in the U.S., and I'd like to cut the budget by 1/3 and the amount of laws in the country by 2/3).