Leading measures of U.S. stocks have been setting records.
美国股市的主要指标持续创新高。
Employment reports in the U.S. are making Americans feel good about the economy.
其就业报告也让美国人对经济形势充满了信心。
Yet many farmers in the United States are struggling.
然而，美国农民的生活却陷入困境。
Fertilizer and seed costs are rising at the same time demand and prices for crops are low.
化肥和种子的成本不断上涨，而农作物的需求和价格却在下降。
And the farmers’ economic problems are affecting others.
农民的收益问题也影响了其他方面。
The Farm Progress Show is one of the largest events for farmers in the world.
对于全球农民来说，农业进步展览会是一项盛大的活动。
It is a place where manufacturers and suppliers can demonstrate their new products and equipment.
制造商和供应商可以在此展示新产品和设备。
Farmers go to the show to learn how they can do their work more efficiently.
参加展览会的农民也可了解一些高效的先进设备。
This year, the show was held in Decatur, Illinois.
今年的展览会在伊利诺斯州的迪凯特举办。
Farmer Jeff Fisher went there, but all he could do was look.
农民杰夫·费舍尔（Jeff Fisher）也来参展，不过他只能来看看。
The Illinois farmer told VOA he does not have enough money to buy the things he would like to have on his farm.
这位来自伊利诺斯州的农民向记者大吐苦水，他没有充足的资金购买设备。
Fisher has not been able to buy new equipment since he last made a profit -- five years ago.
他表示，上一次盈利还是在5年前，期间他从没购买过新设备。
“We’re losing money where the cost of production of corn is higher than the price of corn on the Chicago Board of Trade and our local price.”
“我们一直亏损，因为玉米的生产成本高于芝加哥期货交易所和当地的价格。”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports median net farm income in 2016 was the lowest since 2009.
据美国农业部报道，2016年农场净收入中位值是2009年以来最低的一年。
The department predicts there will be a small increase in earnings this year.
农业部预计今年的收益只会小幅度增加。
The lack of profit has hurt more than just farmers.
亏损伤害的不只是农民的利益。
Tamara Nelsen is the Senior Director of Commodities for the Illinois Farm Bureau.
塔玛拉·尼尔森（Tamara Nelsen）是伊利诺斯州农业局大宗商品的高级主管。
“The Equipment Manufacturers Association released some pretty dismal numbers for farm equipment sales, and what that means to Caterpillar and Deere, that’s troublesome.”
“设备制造商协会发布了若干令人泄气的农场设备销售数据，这对于卡特比勒公司和迪尔公司来说十分棘手。”
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers reported a 14 percent decrease in farm equipment exports for the first nine months of 2016.
设备制造商协会的报告显示，2016年前三季度的农场设备出口减少了14%。
Sales dropped 44 percent from 2015 levels in Asia and 28 percent in South America.
与2015年相比，亚洲的销售额下降了44%，而南美洲下降了28%。
Tamara Nelsen says a drop in equipment sales affects manufacturers that depend on farmers buying new equipment.
尼尔森指出，设备销量减少影响了那些靠农民购买设备为生的制造商。
"If a farmer cannot afford to buy this, then those 25 workers that work to make it and the steelworkers who produce the steel,
“如果农民买不起设备，那么制作该设备与生产钢铁的25名工人
and all of the people involved in the parts, they are not going to have jobs either -- and so farmers need to have good markets just like manufacturers need to have good markets."
以及所有参与到这项工作中的人将面临失业——制造商和农民一样，都需要好的市场与行情。”
Mark Bremer is a farmer from southern Illinois.
马克·布雷默（Mark Bremer）是伊利诺斯州南部的农民。
Bremer grows corn and soybeans on his farm and raises livestock.
他的农场种植着玉米和大豆，还饲养着家畜。
Like Fisher, he is using old equipment.
他跟费舍尔一样用着旧设备。
“We would love to update, we’d love to purchase new technology and stuff,but that technology comes with a price -- they didn’t develop it for free.”
“我们想换新，想购买新技术和产品，但是技术研发需要成本，研发人员也想获利。”
Bremer is not sure when he will have enough money to buy new equipment.
布雷默不知道何时有资金购买新设备。
And he is worried about the effect this year of a lack of rainfall will have on his crops.
他担心今年降雨量少会影响庄稼生长。
“We’re not guaranteed the rain, we’re not guaranteed the price and we’re not guaranteed the yield either so it’s a continual challenge of making it.”
“我们无法保证降雨量、也控制不了价格和产量，这是一场持久战。”
There is also no guarantee that next year will be better. But farmer Jeff Fisher still has hope.
虽然明年的形势也很难预测。但费舍尔仍然怀有希望。
“We’re in the bottom of that roller coaster, it feels like, ride right now -- I hope it doesn’t get worse.”
“我们身处过山车的谷底段，就像触底反弹一般——我希望情况不会变得恶化。”
In a few weeks, he will begin harvesting his crops.
几周过后，他就开始收割庄稼了。
I’m Caty Weaver.
凯蒂·韦弗为您播报。
【词汇解析】
1.economic problems 经济问题
The country is beset by severe economic problems.
这个国家被严重的经济问题所困扰。
2.roller coaster 过山车
His hat blew away on the roller coaster.
他的帽子在过山车上被吹走了。
3.get worse 转坏
The government has just stood on the sidelines up to now and let the situation get worse.
迄今为止政府仅仅是置身局外，任凭事态恶化。
4.in the bottom of 位于...底部
There is some deposit in the bottom of the flask.
这只烧杯的底部有些沉淀物。
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