Excellent story of looking at all parts of the US that are effected by the fall of the US Economy.

Jackie, do you mean the fall of the US economy that Barnay Frank and Chris Dodd were directly involved in or were you planning on laying this one at GWB's feet ..... again?

Stop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and have a rocking meal at the Hard Rock, hike to famous Laurel Falls and Cades Cove in the Smokies, check out Dollywood (it's still open) and listen to that good time music of the mountains along the way. Great fudge and home cookin,' even better than the Cracker Barrel. Rent a cabin and get in the hot tub. If you want the heartland, you can't ignore Gatlinburg.

Oh and ride a horse, unguided. There's nothing like it. Happy Trails.

I watched the segment driving through the heartland tonight about or sick economy. I was sicken to see the interview showing a tractor made in japan (Kabota) or at least head quartered in japan. That my friends is why our economy is in such sad shape.

Full Moon
This problem didn't happen without cooperation from both parties and others. No one's hands are clean with this mess. Now it's time to clean house and put the one's responsible out. We know about some will learn of others in time. I learned that Speaker Pelosi's huband got a big US contract for her cooperation in the following. Speaker Pelosi's first act of business was NOT to Impeach Bush as she said the Impeachment is off the table. It took time to find how why she just got in office and knowing she had more then enough evidence for Impeachment but chose not to.  Don't worry even Diane Feinstein's husband was given one of those big contract for her vote to put Michael Mukasey in office. Let's leave no stone unturned as each election year comes. If they don't work in the best interest of the people kick them out.

and larry may receive help from our country's farm subsidy program, probably not enough but something.
http://farm.ewg.org/farm/persondetail.php?custnumber=008176123

At last a story about farmers in America.  I have a brother who is a diary farmer in Wisconsin.  I have yet to meet anyone who know that he is paid (currently) $18.25 per 100 pounds of milk, he is not paid by the gallon.  He can get a bonus for protein or butter fat content.  A far cry from what milk cost in a store.  The same is true of grain products...there is less than 20 cents of corn in a box of corn flakes cereal....so the farmer sure isn't getting rich...yet with prices down so much many family farm may fail.  Who is helping them....many think if an industry is not profitable they should go belly up....but farmers are a unique part of America...more stories explaining the real facts would truly help all family farmers. After all we are all in this mess together.   During a recent visit to family in Kentucky, I learned that tobacco is NOT planted without a contract from a company to buy it at a price that keeps tobacco growers in business.  I was so surprised that tobacco farmers are assured of making a living but the many farmers who grow the food we eat are not. WHY?  I guess it is just one more way of fleecing America.  I would like to see more stories about farmers....and the middle man that is the real one getting rich.  These large companies can and should reduce prices instead of rewarding those at the top with more big bonuses and retirement plans that are so unnecessary for the top CEO's.  Americans just doesn't know and I bet you don't either.  I heard so much about politics and the ugly side of America brought out at some rallys....it's way past time for more stories like these.  Please do more stories about Farmers in America  Thanks!

What about the farm subsidies?  How could any responsinble jounalist do a story about poor, brokedown, starving farmers without talking about thier farm subsidies?

Was that the only way thet would agree to talk to you if you promised not to talk about farm subsidies?  The U. S. Goverments welfare system for wealthy white farmers.

I enjoyed your report on the farmers and ranchers in the heartland and I fully empathize with their plight regarding rising costs and lower prices paid for their crops. Here in California, I am an individual who also is involved in and whose livelihood depends on growing food for our nation.  California is known for its fruit,vegetable and nut crops.  Much different than the commodity crops grown in the midwest.
 Here too our costs have risen astronomically, and farmers in the US and especially CA have more regulations than anywhere else in the world for producing food.  However the prices being paid to the grower known as F.O.B. price has been dropping year after year to now some of the lowest prices being paid for fruits and vegetables in 20 years.  However the interesting thing is, prices in the stores are the highest level they have ever been.  Right now, we are harvesting Roma Tomatoes in Northern Califronia and struggling to sell them wholesale to retailers, repackers and foodservice at $0.25 a pound.  The going price on the market for a 25 lb box of Roma tomatoes is $5.65, some growers are even getting less.  These prices don't even begin to cover the cost of growing, picking and packing.  However go into most any local grocery store chain here and find imported tomatoes for sale at $2.99 per pound.  Not only are the prices consumers paying in the stores ridiculously high at a time when every penny counts for someone trying to feed a family; but the buyers for these local stores would rather truck a crop in 3000 miles at the expense of the evironment rather than buy from a local producer.  I have seen grower after grower plow under their crop or leave their harvest in the field because the cost to harvest far outweighs the price being paid for it.  These practices are affecting all produce commodities, almost every fruit and vegetable grown in the US is being affected, the producers are all struggling, and so is everyone who depends on this area of the economy; and the biggest misconception is when a consumer that pays $2.99 for a pound of imported tomatoes wrongly believes this is the amount the grower is collecting for his hard work.  Thank you for your interest and dedication in making these stories known.

Good luck and God bless you on your journey.

I have been enjoying this series. However, as a resident of Kansas living near Garden Plain, I have cause to wonder at the latest segment. Why would you choose Larry Stechline as a reprsentative of the local farming community? Mr. Stechline is not by any stretch of the imagination, a struggling farmer. He is in fact a multi millionaire farmer that is also heavily involved in the radio/TV business. Not to mention the fact that his daughter is the evening  news anchor on the local NBC affiliate. I think that with just a bit of searching, you could have found a farm family a bit more representative of the actual state of affairs of agriculture in this country.

WILL I JUST WHAT TO LET U NO ABOUT MS U TALK ABOUT JOBS BUT LET TAIL U ABOUT OXFORD MS U ALL CAME TO OXFORD MS BUT U ALL NEED TO COME BACK BECAUSE WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION IS CLOSING DOWN AND 1THOUSANDS WILL BE OUT OF A JOBS AND IT WILL BE BAD ON OXFORD MS AND OLE MISS BECAUSE IT JUST DOWN THE THE ROAD FROM WHIRLPOOL AND IT WILL BE BAD FOR THE STUDENTS THEY WILL BE OUT OF A JOB AND I WISH UALL WILL VIST ON THE ROAD TRIP I AM LOOK FOR THE ROAD TRIP TO STOP IN OXFORD BECAUSE JOB IS THE KEY

Dear Mara,
Larry Steckline in Garden Plains was wearing a bright yellow and blue plaid short sleeve shirt.
I don't mean to be frivolous, but would like to know the brand name of the shirt and where I could get one.
Thanks for the series.  The heartland is our heart.

I have now watched Wednesday night's segment on how the so-called new economy is affecting the zip code 64130 in Kansas City, MO. I am a lifelong resident (54 years) of KC. The neighborhood you chose to spotlight is NOT representative of an area in which the economic woes have hit particularly hard. In fact, this zip code was in decline decades ago and remains an economically disadvantaged part of town. I am certain there are parts of KC in which housing values have actually declined significantly in recent months, making them more appropriate for your story. This area does not meet that profile. You might have people who took out bad mortgages and therefore couldn't make their payments in 64130, but I do not believe the property values have changed much, if at all.

MARA. THANK U FOR PUT MY MESSAGE ON THE WEB BUT I WISH U CAN DO THIS AGAIN BECAUSE IT BAD TIME FOR PEOPLE JUST PRAY FOR THE WHIRLPOOL WORKERS I GUESS NBC WILL VIST THE 1THOUSANDS WORKERS AND STUDENTS BUT I GOT TO SAY U IS GOOD AT THE JOB U DO REPORTING MARA  GOD IS BLESSING U??

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