Guest column

Farmers continue to be a sturdy pillar for the U.S. economy

By Klodette Stroh
Posted 3/20/20

I pray the year of 2020 will be a fruitful and blessed year for everyone, especially American farmers.

In the past two years, U.S. farmers have endured heavy crops losses related to an unusual …

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Guest column

Farmers continue to be a sturdy pillar for the U.S. economy

Posted

I pray the year of 2020 will be a fruitful and blessed year for everyone, especially American farmers.

In the past two years, U.S. farmers have endured heavy crops losses related to an unusual weather pattern and commodity prices, which have declined for the past five years. 

Despite a devastating prior season and financial losses, local farmers are still standing. 

Having witnessed the recent devastation, my heart bleeds when I see American farmers like my husband Rick and our farmer friends preparing fields of barley, beans, corn and sugar beets for 2020 crop season. There’s no doubt that farmers are more resilient than any other profession in America. Farmers are in partnership with God to be stewards of his land and provide food and nourishment for people. 

Members of our Congress must protect American agriculture. Unfortunately, free trade agreements have been unfair, especially to the sugar industry. 

This year is crucial because the sugar industry must renew the anti-dumping duties under the suspension agreements with Mexico — otherwise the industry will be injured by imported Mexican sugar.

The new United States-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA) is a mutually beneficial win for North American workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses. USMCA trade agreements could increase agricultural exports and help increase prices from their current lows. 

The sugar industry — along with almost every other agricultural organization in Washington — is constantly advocating for passage of this agreement. When finalized and implemented, the agreement will create more balanced, reciprocal trade that supports high-paying jobs for Americans, and it will help boost the North American economy.

Farmers have been a sturdy pillar for the U.S. economy. Honoring and praying for farmers at churches’ daily Mass — especially the first week of spring — has been a blessed Christian tradition since the year 1110 when Saint Isidore was witnessed to receive celestial help as he farmed. 

The life story of St. Isidore is amazing and inspirational, especially for our farmers who have endured hardships. 

St. Isidore and his wife Maria de la Cabeza lived in Madrid, Spain. He came from a poor and humble family. From childhood, he worked as a farmhand. 

Isidore’s most distinguishing trait was praying and attending daily Mass. He loved the good earth and was honest in his farming practices. Domestic animals and birds showed their attachment to his kindness. 

Isidore’s coworkers and master de Vargas became disturbed about the amount of time he was taking from his work to attend daily Mass at the Catholic Church. Finally, De Vargas decided to see for himself if reports were as bad as they sounded. 

One morning he hid himself in the field where Isidore was supposed to be plowing. On that day Isidore returned even later than usual from his morning worshipping, the other workers had finished their jobs and had left the field, while St. Isidore’s job was still untouched. 

Master De Vargas was just about to approach Isidore, but something told him to wait and see what would happen. Saint Isidore started working and seemed to make great progress. 

As the employer watched, he saw the reason: Two angels were working side by side with St. Isidore, each guiding a plow. 

After what he had witnessed, whenever anyone asked Master De Vargas about St. Isidore’s work, he would answer simply, “Angels are his helpers.”  

By Sacred Congressional of Rites on Feb. 22, 1947, St. Isidore was designated as the special protector of the National Catholic rural Life conference and American farmers. 

Every year during Agriculture Week (March 22-28), daily Mass is celebrated for American farmers.

 

(Klodette Stroh is the national sugar chairman for Women Involved in Farm Economics.)

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