Just watched the documentary “King Corn”. The directors decide to grow an acre of corn and in the end only turn a profit thanks to a subsidy from the government.
In the movie the directors acted as though this were surprising – but it really shouldn’t be. In a commoditized, efficient market, profit margins will be low. Since the government subsidy is factored into the price of corn, the price is set exactly where the subsidized supply demand curves intersect and therefore farmers barely scrape by with a small profit – and only after the subsidy. Without the subsidy, some farmers would stop producing corn and we would move back down the supply/demand curve so that corn once again becomes just marginally profitable at the new lower (subsidy-free) price.
For me, the really surprising part of the movie was how little physical work a farmer actually does. The directors make it seem like producing corn is the easiest job in the world. I figured the movie was blowing things out of proportion for effect, but I found this interview with one of the directors:
Curt: The most amazing thing to us was how little physical work is involved in the modern farm. All told, I think we spent about two hours over the course of the year…growing five tons of food!
So now I’m left wondering, what is that modern corn farmers actually do on a daily basis? Google isn’t any help, does anyone know?
Since adding the veggie smoothies to my diet, I’ve become much more sensitive to the effects of what I eat. I normally eat a lot of vegetables and whole grains and feel pretty good around the clock. But when I go out to eat and buy something fatty and carby, I feel my energy plummet about an hour later.
A few days ago Craig and I went out for huge ice cream cones on empty stomachs, and sure enough about 90 minutes later we both fell asleep in the living room. An hour or two later I dragged myself off the couch into my bed and found I couldn’t sleep after all. I guess my post-sugar rush insulin dip finally balanced out.
It’s interesting because I remember so often as a kid getting “second winds” at night, right before I was about to go to bed. I’d feel really tired, go brush my teeth, and then just as I was ready to go to bed I’d suddenly feel wide awake again. Growing up on a diet of Chinese food, I bet it was actually just a nightly sugar low from all the white rice.
Family’s here! I’m off to Victoria to celebrate my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary. Wow!
I’d wanted to throw a moustache party for a long time. The internet answered the “how” with 250 fake moustaches for $40. Craig’s birthday provided the “when”, and that was all we needed.
I don’t know who that last guy is, but one day he’ll regret this photo.
An inspiring video. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any goofy science/engineering stuff. I need to make some time for it this summer.
