Farm Program Pays $1.3 Billion to People Who Don't Farm

About the shoe store. Shoe stores don't have a great deal to do with national security and farming is about the most basic national security you can get. You need farmers, you need to keep the populace fed. It may be fashionable in the last few years to get food from other countries, but when TSHTF, you're going to need homegrown food. Farming isn't very profitable and how else do you keep farmers on the land than to subsidize them, since ag products are so cheap in this country? The country needs farmers, and if we run out of them, or get low on them, what happens? $10 bread.

Jennifer

__________________
-Northern NYS

Check the website mentioned before. You will find corporate farming reaps the biggest benefits. It is not enough to keep a small, poorly run farm afloat. It benefits those that do not need it the most.

DITTO I will never see any for my future 10 acre market garden/subsistence garden

__________________
marching to the beat of a different drummer

Is there any other measure of "best in the world" other than production per acre?

By that measure American farmers are decidedly NOT the best in the world. Many labor intensive forms of agriculture produce far higher yields per acre.
Are you saying that we do not now have an oligarchy (or a relatively small number of agribusiness) manipulating prices? I would seriously question that conclusion.

__________________
Whether you believe you can or you believe you cannot – you are usually right.

This does not include flying or moving mountains unassisted or attempting to prove the existence of an “afterlife”.

Sorry,I dont see any reason my taxes should go to Ted Turner so he can own thousands of acres.

And I dont buy CORPORATE WELFARE for ANY business.Or being paid to produce nothing.

Sink or swim.On YOUR dime,not mine.

BooBoo

I have no problem with doing away with subsidies; dairy is usually the low man on the totem pole anyway.Now; let the dairy farmers get together and set the price we want for our milk; right now the same govt. won't allow us to, claiming it violates anti trust laws, claiming it wouldn't be fair to the public as they have to eat. Too bad the same rule doesn't apply to the oil companies.....the one that have the political prostitues from the White House on down in their back pocket.

I agree with you milkinpigs.
Gov should NOT be setting prices either.
Good post.

BooBoo

On a similar vein; let's deny ag exemptions on property, farm tags on trucks and ag sales tax exemptions for anyone who does not earn less than85 % of their income from farming.A lot of gung ho "conservatives" have their "farm-ranch" while earning big money in medicine, law and other professions.They are no more farmers than George Bush is a rancher but it's acceptable when they benefit.

Read your history books; this has been going on since FDR. My dad's folks are all democrats because of programs like these. Guess it had something to do with the depression in those days. It certainly could stop in 2006 but who can turn down all that money. Seems they should pay the farmers to plant food for all the starving people of the world. Not use the money to put rockets in space, etc. Just my opinion.

__________________
www.naritafarmaussies.com

AMEN

__________________
marching to the beat of a different drummer

I would agree with you, if you can make me _one_ promise:

The USA govt will not ever have a grain embargo, or other market-killing intervention.

Then, if we can fix the lasting damage from the 1980's embargos, I will fully support you in this.

If you can't make that promise, and can't fix the lingering problems....

You may see there is _no_ free enterpise in farming, and you need to re-evaluate your ideals.

They are terrific goals; but we can't get there because of big-government.

Big ag doesn't bother anyone; there are ways to work around or with or despite big-ag. Ted Turner don't bother anyone, he's just another fellow farming some.

Big-govt is the problem.

You have great ideas, but you would need to start with _free enterpise_ first, & then the rest would fall into line.

Does that make any sense to you?

--->Paul

While we are at it; why should tax payers ( including farmers, yes we pay taxes , too) provide millions of dollars to corps. such as McDonalds, Campell soup and other big time food companies to advertise overseas? USDA nad ALL govt. agencies need revamping as well as getting rid of ALL current office holders: both sides have had their chance and still fail the average American citizen.

Down with big government long live the american citizen! FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________
marching to the beat of a different drummer

Perfect sense.

BooBoo

There seems to be a good deal of agreement here that the government should not subsidize private or corporate business activities including agriculture.

Realistically, nothing is likely to change. Generations of Americans have come to accept government regulation and government welfare as "The American Way". Generations of politicians have perfected their systems for granting favors in return for favors.

Perhaps the most likely possibility for change, one that is not pleasant to consider, could come in the form of a deep and prolonged depression (which seems to be possible or likely given current economic conditions and policies). The horrible reality of what we have done to ourselves may lead to needed changes in the government economy (admittedly an oxymoron) and in the criteria by which we select "leaders" in all three branches of government.

We have done it to ourselves by seeking and permitting a "free lunch" at public expense (which has been said to be the fatal weakness of democracy) and by accepting limitations upon individual liberty granted by the Constitution (in the name of protection – another fatal weakness) and by allowing special interests to buy politicians.

Can a “grassroots” effort unseat the special interests? Possibly. Let’s give it a try.

__________________
Whether you believe you can or you believe you cannot – you are usually right.

This does not include flying or moving mountains unassisted or attempting to prove the existence of an “afterlife”.

I could not accept money for programs which I don't believe in. Farm subsidies have sent this country on a fast road to hell. Several years ago my husband and I looked into buying some land that was already under CRP. Unfortunately once the land is in the program you are bound to keep taking the money until the time expires. Here is some information from 2002:

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Agriculture/BG1542.cfm

If that don't make you vomit, NOTHING WILL.

If I had bought that land, I think I would have taken the money, and asked other small farmers who would like to save the family farm to contribute theirs to fight these idiots in Washington. That is what we need in this country, people willing to donate their farm subsidies to get RID of farm subsidies and all the other USDA trash, including NAIS. Sorry this is one of my hot buttons.

Little Bit Farm

__________________
Jeremiah 31:33
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Excellent link Little Bit,hope everyone read it.

Getting ready to cough up my 4,400 over the next ten years to supplement millionaires(The top 10%) who recieve the 70% plus of the subsidies.

BooBoo

It is time for the American people to pay fair prices for food - if inflation was adjusted - I believe that milk should cost nearly $10.00/gallon today.
Then farmers would be able to live without relying on government subsidies....

Or maybe they would stop taking so much farm land out of production (for "development"), and more people wouldn't be as opposed to having a cow in the yard or at least one next door...

__________________
www.PromisedLandFamilyFarm.com
Icelandic Sheep, Indian Runner Ducks, Heritage Breed Chickens, Geese, Turkeys, Honeybees, Pigs, Llamas, LGDs...and more!

Actually, they would buy more food from Mexico & South America - wherever it's cheapest.

Americans want cheap food. Sure, they will answer any poll any way you want - ask if they want wholesome, or organic, or local food & they will overwhelmingly say yes.

But when they vote at the store, where it matters - they vote for cheapest.

So if you jack up the price of USA produced food, _most_ folks will end up shopping overseas, and our USA food production will follow textiles, electronics, etc.

Just how it is.

Now, if we want to cut back the cost of ag programs - anyone want to eliminate the food stamp program????? You do know that is one of the biggest expenditures of the USDA - all going to non-farmers you know? Bigger welfare than the farm programs everyone is so up in arms about.

--->Paul

I want my M-TV. Money for nothing....... Showing our age. I am currently tring to get a USDA ag loan for a pastured poultry operation. Also you must show farm income for 3 years to quailify for a farm ownership loan thru USDA. Land is high in Florida. But everyone has to eat....