[hedgetrimmer]

If our farming methods are so economically superior, why are government subsidies necessary?

Our methods are superiour.

What you should be asking yourself if you are a US citizen, is "why do I allow state and federal governments to put increasingly burdensome regulation on farmers so that they cannot compete in the global economy, if we are to have "free trade"? Ask yourself, "why have I done nothing to stop the government from imposing ridiculously restrictive regulation on our nations farmers, and fall for their lie that the "playing field is level" when they make "Free trade" agreements with third world, slave labor nations?"

Do you know in California farmers need to file a form if they even intend to irrigate their land? You don't have to do that in the Dominican Republic. Why don't Americans demand a truly level playing field in trade, instead of allowing the third world to have the competitive advantage through trade agreements? Could it be that the "free traders" have no affection for this country and really don't care about the citizens who live here as long as they can make money off them? Its a great topic for the nations birthday, because there are clearly citizens on this forum who wish to preserve the culture of life, liberty and property, and those who want it gone because it interferes with "the global system of trade".

[lucysmom]

Do you know in California farmers need to file a form if they even intend to irrigate their land?

They don't if they have their own wells. Did you know that the system of dams and canals that deliver water to farms were built by the state and federal government to promote farming where natural conditions would make farming difficult?

Water rights are a big issue in areas where natural rainfall does not occur at the right time to support farming. Perhaps you think each farmer should work it out for himself? If each farmer worked it out for himself, then perhaps fewer farms would exist. That would be the free market too.

Why don't Americans demand a truly level playing field in trade, instead of allowing the third world to have the competitive advantage through trade agreements?

You don't want a level playing field, you want one that constructed to your advantage. There is no free lunch. You like the government handouts and rail against the rules that come with it.