rage H-A?THK BKl'NSWK'K BEACON. Thursday. LVci
County 1
BY MARJ0R1K MKGIVERX
Scary headlines and televised scenes of somber
fanners watching the sale of their homes lias painted a
grim picture of American farming over the past two
years.
As drought has been followed by flooding, and cmbargos
by rising export prices, the country has seen its
breadbasket at risk, the men and women who operate it
suddenly unable to dig out from under financial, political
and economic crises.
The situation is less desnerate in some Darts of the
country, and Brunswick County is among those where
most fanners have avoided disaster, according to Milton
Coleman, director of the county's Agricultural Extension
Service office.
"Fortunately, we're against the norm, for many
reasons." he said.
Agriculture Agent Billy Barrow agreed. "Our people
have not been hurt as bad as others."
Though there are slightly more than 2.000 farms in
the county, and about 300 tobacco farmers, only a handful
of foreclosure notices were sent out here last year, according
to Ted Rivenbark. director of Farmers Home Administration.
the chief lending agency for local farmers.
"There are not as many full-time farmers here as
elsewhere, for one thing." he said, "but all fanners are
suffering to some degree because of price drops in corn,
soybeans and tobacco."
Rivenbark said the Department of Agriculture
ordered a moratorium on foreclosures for over a year,
hoping the farm economy would improve. "But it didn't,"
he said.
Pain Of Foreclosure
Despite Brunswick County's more favored status,
there are those who have lost their homes and livelihood
in the current crunch and thuir nnin i? nc r..-,i -?*
televised in the midwest.
One such family is that of Gary and Mary I.one of
Longwood. who had to walk out of their home in
September of 198o and see a lock put on the door by
sheriff's deputies.
They had filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which means
complete liquidation of all assets, with the proceeds going
to the creditor. FmHA in this case.
"What hurt the most was having to leave our home."
said Mary Long. "Wt re just about over it now. but I had
a rough year, when 1 was real depressed."
The Longs had. for 18 years, grown tobacco, corn.
WILTON HARREI.SON shows off the coiorful plants in
his store, an example of merchandise that has taken
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Farming Runs
soybeans aiul sweet potatoes on 27 ai res tl.it included the
family home.
'I was raised on the farm and haven't done any thine
else, except for two years in the Army." I one said. Mary
helped, keeping records and working, in the fields "Many
a time. I've suckered tobacco in UU deerees." she Inughcd.
In 1980 the bad times beean. with prices declining
and wet weather and mold ruining the tobacco and sweet
potatoes. "I decided in 1982 not to fight it any longer and
got out." I .tug stud. He had already filed for bankruptcy
the year before.
The l-ongs wen* in a better position tl?n many, as he
went to work as a lineman for Hnuiswick Klectric
Membership Corporation, and Mary got a job with
Brunswick Hospital. Also. Mary's mother let them live.
free of rent, in ;> tiny house she owned ui Longwood.
Now. five years after bankruptcy proceedings began,
the Ijongs are beginning to look at the future with some
optimism. Two years from now. their credit rating will be
healthy again, with the bankruptcy removed from it.
They'll build another home on eight acres deeded to them
by his parents.
And they say the losses they endured have
strengthened the family. "It's brought us closer, because
we've fussed over money a lot." Long said.
The tangs say many of their neighbors liad similar
experiences. "I know five families in about five miles
around here that had the same problems." l.ong said.
A woman called me last year." Mary added, "and
said we didn't know each other, but she knew what we
were going through. She said she and her husband were
faced with it. too. and she wanted to know how we got
through it. 1 talked to her for about an hour."
Long admitted he is disappointed at Living to give up
farming, but said he won't go back to it. except for parttime
combining for neighbors.
"It w as the weather that caused our troubles, not bad
management." he said.
Root Of Farm Problems
Weather has always been the chief risk for fanners,
but Barrow said those who stay w ;th it through many
years of good and bad weather can. on the average, make
a go of it
The current problems with American farming arc
more complicated than that, and go buck to the early
1970's.
"There was worldwide economic growth then." he
MHi
the place of farm supplies since farming has declined
in the county.
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A FOB SA1.K SIGN tells the stcry of this house in
Longwood that was the home of Gary Long and his
family until farming setbacks forced him into
explained, "and Russia's grain crop failure triggered a
rise in exports. The philosophy in American agriculture
was. "We've got to feed the world. We must produce!' Demand
for our products grew stronger and we got the
highest prices ever in 1973-74."
Barrow said U.S. exports rose from $2.3 billion in ll?45
to $7.7 billion in 1971, and took a phenomenal leap to $44 in
1981. Then began a decline that continued to the present.
Projected exports for 1985 were $2<?.5 billion.
International Scene
Wilton llarrelson. owner of Harrelson Farm Center
near Shallotte, said during those years the action tliat
ultimately hurl farmers was the embargo on exports by
Presidents Nixon. Ford and Carter.
"They were using agricultural products as political
tools." he said, "so we became unreliable suppliers and
ciuier countries tot into it and we lost our markets. Those
that used to be our customers are now our competitors."
What happened on the farm in the heyday of production
was a huge investment in machinery and land by
fanners who looked to a rosy future. The drop in com and
soybean prices, as well as inroads by foreign tobacco
caught many deeply in debt. Then a few bad-weather
years finished them off.
Brunswick County fanners, however, avoided the
enormous indebtedness. < 'oleman said. "There's a strong
pay-as-you-go attitude here, so (our farmers) haven't
paid the high interest rates and don't linve the big debts."
According to Coleman, diversification is another
reason this region is faring better than some others.
"Some have gone into other businesses and sold or
leased their land, and others continue tannine Dart-time
but have jobs to supplement their incomes," he said.
"Also, with increased development in this county, land
values have remained constant."
Barrow said the tourism and development of the 80's
paved the way for some farmers to no into real estate.
"I.and that would have become prime farms is now being
snapped up by developers," he said
Diversity Helps
There arc many stories of diversification in
Brunswick County. Wilbur and Mary Harp of Winnabow
are an example of how good management of diverse
operations can overcome disaster.
Their grape vineyard, which Barrow said was one of
the most profitable around, was wiped out in 1084 by Hurricane
Diana. "They'd planned for that grape income to
nay for expansion of their hog operation," lie said.
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bankruptcy. The house was sold last week by the
Brunswick County Sheriff's Department.
The Karps arc making a comeback now. though said
Mrs. Karp, "We bad tough times." They're growing
wheat, feeding cattle and continuing a successful swine
production.
A dramatic switch in farming, Harrow said, was
made by Kelly flolden who switched from tobacco farming
into vegetable production for roadside stands.
Farmers' Market
The transition to vegetable fanning has been
minimal here. Coleman said. Recently, HarreLson and
Albert I'arker. with the cooperation of the extension office,
sponsored a meeting to determine how a proposed
southeastern regional farmers market might be used by
local tanners. Though it was poorly attended, Coleman
promised another in February, "where we'll have a
smorgasbord of ideas for farmers."
He said his office has tried to help with diversification,
suggesting, for instance, peach orchards and
cucumber production. There are now about 15ft acres in
peach orchards in the county.
HarreLsou, who is active in the movement, said this
trend, as well as the downswing in tobacco, corn and soybean
farming, has affected his business.
"I've had to diversify, too, and I've gone to garden
supplies," he said.
llarrclson said North Carolina farmers arc in better
shape than their counterparts because they have always
been more diversified. "The small family farms are on
their way out. here, though," he added, "and I don't think
they'll be back. We'll have larger farm units, run by
fewer people."
Harrow has a different theory: "If someone had
enough capital and really wanted to farm, now is a good
time to get into it. when everyone else Is getting out," he
said. "He should start small, part-time, and raise tobacco
and swine, staying away from corn and soybeans."
The county agricultural extension office has stood
ready to help farmers make decisions about their future,
throughout the crises of recent years, but Harrow said
there has been no response.
"Farmers are a little independent," he laughed.
The helping hand remains extended. That office will
hold a .seminar Jan. 1J on taxes and how the new tax
reform bill will affect farmers.
"We're always happy to sit down with anyone and
look at their farming situation and make suggestions,"
said Barrow.
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