Farming and subsidies, Just a thought.

[burniegoeasily]

In Texas, the farmers are pushing to get the recent farm bill extended so it will not be changed in 2007. This bill creates subidies of over 20 billion a year . Now what other industry is subsidized this well? Why do we insist on spending tax dollars for products not needed. Would it not be better to tariff foreign product, or better yet, refuse to buy foreign products that are already produced in America? Think of the tax dollars we would save if McDonalds was forced to buy American Beef. Let Americans by American Produce that way we don't pay farmers with Tax dollars to subsidies the production of products that are not needed due to a foreign overflow.
[/align]On another note, why do we pay people to not produce? I get a CRP check for doing nothing more than not farm my hunting land. My land will never be used to grow a crop, but the government wants to pay me to insure it is not used to grow a crop. I understand about soil conservation, but come on. We have created one of the largest social welfare programs ever, and keep pumping tax dollars into it, instead of addressing a more logical solution.[/align][/align][/align]Alright now, yall let me know where im wrong.[/align]

[Lanse couche couche]

Add corporate welfare and its easy to understand why things are such a mess.

But on the bright side, all that farm ground that never gets plowed and planted makes great game habitat.

[Aught Six]

I can understand why some farmers don't want to close their operations, but theyof all people should understand the meaning of self-sufficiency. These farm subsidies are creating the next big welfare population, and with nothing to show for it but unproductive farmers and wasted tax money.

I'm tired of people refusing to face the realities of economics simply because they don't want to give up their farming lifestyle. Farming is quaint, but it's no longer what America does for a living...not by 100 years. If they want to keep tending to their fields, let them do it with their own money.

[buck knife]

I agree, farming is not the same as it used to be and a lot of people need to face that fact. Like Kevin always says...compete or die!!
It seems that most people I talk to say that all the farmers are so poor and have to get a second jobs to make it. I say what about all the assets they have....land, equipment.... It seems that some of the farmers I know get new tractors way to often (probably to bring down their profits).

Here is a website that you can search by region, city, zip code, or a person or business name. It is amazing how much they get.
http://www.ewg.org/farm/index.php?key=nosign

[vc1111]

While I agree that the farming subsidies seem extravagant, at least on the surface, certain subsidies do have their place. Look at the success of the airline subsidies in the wake of 9/11.

[Canuck_Buck]

I vote for monthy farmer's daughters subsidies...and I get the first pretty one...mmmkaaaay ?...

[kevin1]

ORIGINAL: buck knife

I agree, farming is not the same as it used to be and a lot of people need to face that fact.Â* Like Kevin always says...compete or die!!

I'm blushing furiously as you read this ...

With all due respect to any small family farmers who may be reading this:

When you buy everything at retail but sell your end product at wholesale knowing full well that you'll be competing head to head with ADM and Cargill please excuse me for lacking sympathy when the land that's been in your family for 150 years ends up on the auction block . Find a more profitable use for the family plot . The corporate farming industry currently supplies 90% of the food sold in the US , and their margin is slowly growing . You can't scratch 400 acres of dirt and hope to compete with a company that can buy 50 combines at a whack for far less each than you can buy one . I personally know quite a few farmers , and I honestly respect their desire to pursue that lifestyle , but every one of them has two jobs , so do their wives , and they have to cut and bale hay from their front yards just to keep the family car in gas these days . Without the subsidies none of them could survive .

[Deleted User]

[Deleted by Admins]

[Canuck_Buck]

Burnie, back in the summer of 2002, here is what they had to say about the current farm bill...

http://www.foodfirst.org/pubs/backgrdrs/2002/s02v8n3.html

I also here the next bill will be more conservativewith moreenvironmental conscience....( cut backs andmore of "can't do this here" lines )

[kevin1]

ORIGINAL: Ifferd

Keeping farms in America opperating is key to the success of the nation in all sectors and is key to national security.

Can't be successful if you can't grow your own food - We subsidize the military to keep America strong, so we should with farms as well for the same reasons and more..

"An army travels on its stomach" - and so do the people.

ORIGINAL:kevin1
The corporate farming industry currently supplies 90% of the food sold in the US , and their margin is slowly growing .

If every single small US farm went under tomorrow the impact wouldbe slightsince the corporate farms would just take up the slack filling the places serviced by smaller farms . foreign imports would fill any niches leftover . It's just the nature of the beast . It's an ugly fact ,but small family farms are totally obsolete and completely unable tosurvive without nanny goob's tit to suckle, you of all people should detest that Iff .

One of my aquaintences is a beekeeper , he sells his honey only to theUSDA commodities program where it's destined to be rejected by thevery welfare slobs it's supposed to help . Why doesn't he sell it on the open market ? Because nanny goob guarantees 47 cents per pound , the best he ever did on the open market was 45 . Ironically , the US manufactures more honey than it consumes yet still imports roughly 10% of it's annual honey consumption, mostly from Canada. Still think subsidies are a good idea ?