Good, eliminate the mandate and let the market decide. A mandate that forces unionism is just as bad as a mandate that forces you to use one product over the other. There are few justifiable government mandates. It’s simply crony capitalism.
No argument about the subsidies for ethanol.
I’m not ready to argue this right now, but the price supports for grains, wool, etc., as well as the federal farm loan programs and crop insurance underwriting I believe derive from various crises (the Dust Bowl and Great Depression chief among them) at which point it was decided that food production was indeed of interest to the national security.
Most of us agree that matters directly related to our being able to continue as a going concern are fodder for intervention; where you draw that line is a whole ‘nother thing.
I’m weaning this year’s calf crop right now and the cacophonous call-and-response is fairly deafening with the house closed and TV turned up. Not a dime of subsidies, no hormones or medicated feed. Just grass and momma’s milk.
No turnips or sweet corn, here (other than the garden). Doesn’t pencil out.