ニュースで学ぶ「現代英語」 全国の酪農家数 1万下回る
3月27日(木)
JAPAN'S DAIRY FARMERS SLUMP BELOW 10,000
The number of dairy farmers in Japan has fallen to below 10,000 as higher feed costs erode income. The Japan Dairy Council says that as of October this year, the ranks of dairy farmers have fallen almost 6 percent year-on-year. The 9,960 total of such workers is the lowest since 2005, when the data started to be collected. A council survey found almost 60 percent of these farmers were losing money on their operations. The organization queried more than 230 operators in September about their business performance. The agriculture ministry has cited shrinking incomes as the reason for the decline. A survey conducted by the ministry shows production costs that dairy farmers paid in 2022 rose about 18 percent from the average for the preceding 10 years. Dairy farmer income shrank 60 percent compared with the 10-year average, even though revenue has remained flat. The ministry is considering ways to pass on higher farming costs into the prices of dairy products.
（2024年12月11日のニュース）
- dairy[ˈdɛri]
- erodeは「むしばむ、侵食する」
- found[faʊnd]
- lose money on …は「～でお金を失う」「赤字を出す」を簡単に表現したものです。<> make money on …なら「～でお金をもうける、利益を出す」
- query「質問する、尋ねる」
- precedingは「先行する、その前の」
*preceeding[prɪˈsidɪŋ]
the preceding 10 yearsは、現時点から数えた過去１０年間ではなく、酪農家が生産費用を支払った２０２２年から数えた過去１０年 - pass on A to B : 「（費用の増加分を）転嫁する」
preceding「先行する、その前の」
pass on「（費用の増加分を）転嫁する」
weak yen「円安」
lack of successors「後継者不足」
Now that we understand the context, let's look at a phrase from today's story and try to make a sentence with it.
even thoughについて、
Today's phrase is “even though.”
So first, let's check the snetence one more time.
Dairy farmer income shrank 60 percent compared with the 10-year average, even though revenue has remained flat.
I'm sure most of our listeners are already, you know, a little familiar with even though,
but here's the basic pattern: Even though + a fact + an action or result that you wouldn't expect based on that fact.
Here'sanother example of even though: “Even though I've never studied Italian, I'm planning to spend a year in Rome.”
Alright, then everybody. Let's try to make a sentence using even though and how about we also tie in the issue of the weak Yen that Maeshima-san mentioned?
Even though the Yen is weak, I'm trying to buy some equipments for horse riding from Germany.
Very nice use of even though. So, even though plus the fact, right?
Even though the Yen is week, that is a fact right now. Then we explain something that goes against that fact, right.? You said, I'm trying to buy some equipments for hourse riding from Germany. So this is the part we could improve just a little bit. Two things.
First, you said I'm trying to buy some
=> trying to buy: Maybe the better version would be "I'm going to buy."
That makes a stronger contrast between the two.
Even though plus something that's kind of, you know, strong and bold or something that goes directly against that would be best.
And also, this is a point that's good for everyone to know, but equipment is one of those nouns that does not take the s, it's always equipment.
Yeah, we don't say equipments. Equipment is one of those, you know, group nouns. So, the corrected version would be,
Even though the Yen is weak, I'm going to buy some equipment for horse riding from Germany.
*equipment is an uncountable noun.
That's a good one to know.
That's sounds more natural.
Because if you put some in front of it, it makes it sound like there are several pieces because some. More than one piece.