NTSC/Widescreen/TRT 4:15/Color and B&W/2023
“Red Harvest” is an acidic, biting reflection on the changing landscape of the rural Midwest, centered on a speech by President Reagan in which he expresses empathy and support for small family farms just a few years before his administration gutted governmental support for farmers and decimated small communities across the rural Midwest.
During the 1980s, Reagan’s administration implemented a series of policies aimed at addressing the challenges facing the American agricultural sector. These policies reflected a broader shift towards free-market economics and deregulation, and were designed to increase efficiency and competitiveness in agriculture. The policies included cuts to government subsidies and price supports, which had been in place to help farmers stay afloat during times of low prices and reduced demand. The result was the decline of many small family-owned farms, and the increasing consolidation of the industry into the hands of a few large agribusinesses. Additionally, consumer advocacy groups raised concerns about the environmental and health impacts of new technologies championed by Reagan and the major farm corporations he supported, such as genetically modified crops. The small towns that supported these farming communities saw economic blight and precipitous declines in population.
Despite Reagan’s efforts, the future of family farming in the Midwest remained uncertain. The challenges facing these farms today are still significant, and it will take time and substantial investment to determine the best way forward for the remaining family farms. But many families are committed to preserving the heritage and traditions of family farming and are working hard to ensure that their farms stay viable for future generations.
Prof. Morrow’s films are viewable at his Vimeo channel.
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