High school debate student (me) would like your opinions about the US federal agricultural policy.

self | September 27, 2001 | self

[KanjiGator]

I am researching the federal agricultural policy for my high school debate class. The following is this year's debate resolution.

Resolved: that the United States should significantly change its federal agricultural policy.

I am very interested in hearing from those of you who are familiar with our agricultural policy. Any information would be helpful, whether it is a complaint, a suggested change, or recommended sources.

Thank you in advance to those of you who take the time to help me out.

[pikachu]

Much of or best farm land is now is suburbs. Some of our grazing lands were grabbed the the Clinton administration and turned into national parks. Farmers can't have crop dusters fly over their lands right now. Most of the farming subsidies go to the biggest corporate farmers PLUS Archer Daniels Midland keeps trying to push corn based fuels that are less efficient and polute more. Farmers in Klamath Falls, who were promised water rights post WWII, are now broke because sucker fish have higher value than farmers. Family farms have to be sold because estate taxes on land rich but cash poor families are extremely high. Should be easy work to pick one or two and go from there.

[Alberta's Child]

Family farms have to be sold because estate taxes on land rich but cash poor families are extremely high.

I believe the estate tax laws have been changed in recent years (1998?) to address this problem. I read somewhere that a farm is now exempt from estate taxes as long as it is passed down to another family member and they continue to operate it as a farm. If it is sold to someone else or subdivided within a certain period of time, then the estate taxes are assessed.

[Calvin Coolidge]

Gosh, we were debating Ag policy back in the late 80s when I was a HS debator. I'd suspect some version of a food aid for the third world case will be very popular, tying into standard economic and population growth advantages/disadvantages. Also, with the recent "Freedom to Farm" act (that title would make a good Internet search to start your research of farm policy), there will be room for cases in both directions: back to a more centralized federal control or onward to more market-based solutions. Finally, there is lots of ground for what we used to call "squirrel" cases which try and do something so insignificant that nothing could go wrong. "Abolish the Mohair Subsidy" for example. Write a few of these to be pulled out at opportune moments, say in elim rounds against tough opponents who are well-prepared for your usual case.

[KanjiGator]

Thank you for your reply.

Do you know of a website with trustworthy information on corn-based fuels?

[hispanarepublicana]

Very simply (perhaps too simply--I'm actually hard at work trying to get Farm Bill legislation past the House Floor Tuesday, so I'll be brief): The ongoing dilemma is how to balance the cost of production with the cost of consumption. The U.S.'s "cheap food" policy (making domestic food affordable at all levels of income) doesn't go hand-in-hand with on-farm profitability from a free market. Add to that the complications from a strong dollar (makes ag products less competitive on the export market), and it gets very complicated. You might try going to the House Agriculture Committee website and downloading written testimony (given ad nauseum by all of us for the past year and-a-half) from all sides involved.

[KanjiGator]

Thanks for the suggestions. Any other suggestions you have would be GREATLY appreciated. (This is only my second year in debate.)

I homeschool and participate in a high school debate club at a local junior college. Our guidelines are slightly different from public school debate. For example, spreads are not allowed in the homeschool debate forum. Also, a plan that does not make a change which is substantial is not valid.

[KanjiGator]

Very simply (perhaps too simply--I'm actually hard at work trying to get Farm Bill legislation past the House Floor Tuesday, so I'll be brief): The ongoing dilemma is how to balance the cost of production with the cost of consumption. The U.S.'s "cheap food" policy (making domestic food affordable at all levels of income) doesn't go hand-in-hand with on-farm profitability from a free market. Add to that the complications from a strong dollar (makes ag products less competitive on the export market), and it gets very complicated. You might try going to the House Agriculture Committee website and downloading written testimony (given ad nauseum by all of us for the past year and-a-half) from all sides involved.

Thank you very much for this information. I will be going to the web site you recommended ASAP.

[pikachu]

Contact edwallace@compuserver.com. Ed Wallace has a local car subject radio show on KLIF Am (www.klif.com) and keeps track of environmental issues like cron based fuels, MTBE, and the like. He is very personable and DOCUMENTS theHECk out of stuff like that.

Good luck

[gopgen]

The Department of Agriculture has more employees than there are farms in America. We should immediately cut the staff by a significant amount, and eliminate farm subsidies that act to artificially prop up markets in a socialist manner. But, the Farm lobby is too large for this to be accomplished easily. Agriculture enjoys the benefits it reaps from Congress, and makes sure that politicians remain in thier pocket.

[KanjiGator]

Thanks for the info.

KGator

[LN2Campy]

The estate tax laws have always had more favorable terms for family farms vis a vis other assets -- as long as the farm stays operating as such, the family has 14 years to pay the estate tax (and the interest charge is 2%). With proper planning, no one need be taxed off the farm b/c of estate taxes. Of course, the tax has supposedly been phased out/repealed effective 2010, but it springs back to life in 2011, so who knows?

[Calvin Coolidge]

Pick a broad case which you are ideologically comfortable with. Given the website you are posting to, Id imagine a big free-market case would work well. For example, that tough dilemma for the federal government concerning how to balance the "cost of production" with the "cost of consumption" - some people might be surprised that there is a tool to achieve that end. Its called a "free market". You see, buyers and sellers get to gether to negotiate prices, and the feds dont have to do a thing!! You will find plenty of literature from libertarian sources noting that this radical notion will actually achieve the ideal balance between costs, with the added advantage of not having to use force to achieve it.

[KanjiGator]

We should immediately cut the staff by a significant amount, and eliminate farm subsidies that act to artificially prop up markets in a socialist manner.

How can I get more detailed information about this?

[looscannon]

Betcha you can be an invaluable source of information for this kid!

[airforce]

I agree with Mr. Coolidge's suggestion.

Farm subsidies, which pass Congress by promising to aid family farms, may be the most blatant form of corporate welfare today. I can't see why taxpayer dollars are needed to subside huge corporations such as ConAgra.

If one really wants to help small farms--or anyone else, for that matter--give them exemptions from estate taxes, payroll taxes, personal income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes.

[KanjiGator]

Thanks for your help. I would like to ask you two more questions.

In your opinion what are some specific harms that federal intervention is causing?

Do you know of a trustworthy libertarian website which would have this info?

Thanks KGator

[Saundra Duffy]

Howdy from Fresno/Central Valley Chapter (California) where we have agriculture up the wazoo. Say, check your FReepMail. For victory & freedom!!!

[Calvin Coolidge]

A good start for internet information could be found on this link, which includes references and links to other sites: http://www.heritage.org/news/archive/agreform.html

The text of the discussion also notes two promising areas for debate cases: sugar and peanut subsidies.

The advantage of HS debate vs. the real world is the notion of 'fiat', or the ability to assume your case is passed into law. Thus the implacable objection of the status quo recipients of farm subsidies need not prevent you from pointing out the advantages to their elimination.

[shaggy eel]

,,, try ----> www.fencepost.com