[Myrddin]

We might consider holding the most precious 1 square foot of land owned by the farmer under tighter reigns. That would be the land directly under the mailbox that receives a government check when crop production is short due to a drought, another check when excessive rain damages the crop and another check when the crop is so successful that price supports are necessary. That 1 square foot is mighty important.

[Balding_Eagle]

Up until a year or two ago it was under very tight reign,

The farmer was generally assured that as long as he produced enough crops to keep food cheap, he wouldn’t be driven out of business. Importantly, he also had to agree not to produce too much. As long as he did that, he would be sent enough money to struggle on until the next year.

The consumer benefited because they got abundant, cheap food. The farmer benefited, because he wasn’t driven out of business.

Ethanol has thrown a monkey wrench into that system. Right now the farmer doesn’t need that government money. As a result, he’s free to produce as much as he wants, and sell it for much more than the government controlled system paid.

You post was a litttle confusing, are you suggesting that we continue the cheap food system, or try to force the farmers to work under the new system (the one with ethonal) by eliminating the farm programs ?