[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this Upper Midwest (WI, IA, MN, MI, and pretty much anyone else interested) list, largely rural and outdoors issues, please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

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If it’s in the national security interest to underwrite the production of farm products, it ought to be in the national interest to subsidize potatoes, chickens, OJ and even maple syrup...Based on everything the Bush administration was supposed to embrace, the end of agri-welfare should have been a slam dunk.

No, immigration should have been a slam dunk, the lobbyists represent non-Americans, but this was a close second.

[Arm_Bears]

From that opening line, you'd think the Bush Administration had originated the concept of buying votes with taxpayer money.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"There is nothing fair about the farm subsidy system in this country."

Proud to say that I've never taken dime-one for my small laying hen operation. I sell eggs year-round and raise laying hens in the spring to sell to other local farmers. I started small and will stay small because who wants to work more than they have to, just to give it back to the government? That's just wrong.

I married into a farming family a decade ago, and aside from some set-aside land that is a tree farm, FIL never took a dime, either.

He's in his 70's and if it wasn't raining, he'd be out harvesting soybeans right now. By himself. In the dark.

And you know what? Both of us like it that way. No strings attached, you know? ;)

[JustAnotherOkie]

Good!! I needs to puts dat on ma grits.

[ZOOKER]

Well, you could eat your share of what you paid to have excavated from under the city of Boston, but you probably wouldn't like it.

[FreedomCalls]

Here's the farm subsidy database.

Check out your neighbors and see how much they are getting. You WILL be surprised.

[facedown]

...when Congress decided that paying women to stay home and raise their children cheated taxpayers.

As far as this tripe was worth reading.

[Lorianne]

They eat a sorghum porridge in Africa. I htink you have too cook it a good while.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Since most journalists don't know where money comes from or any other real-life phenomenon it doesn't surprise me that a reporter from the American "bread basket" would attack farm subsidies. The Environmental Working Group she cites is an organic gardening crusade.

[AdamsPapers]

I've eaten sorghum syrup on pancakes and waffles. It can also be used as a sweetener in breads. I actually prefer Sugar Cane syrup over sorghum, molasses, honey, or maple syrup (yuck). Cane syrup also reminds me of pouring thick rum over pancakes. My wife hates it all.....poor city girl, likes Aunt Jemimah (worse than maple syrup).

[henderson field]

And now a word about the worst welfare program of all: government pensions.