Take it from one who lives in the heart of farm country. If we don't feed Americans--and no one else will--oil dependency will pale by comparison.
I've met the Master and First Lady of the Ohio State Grange as well as the Legislative Director. All really nice people.
I hear you bud. I lived on a farm when I was a kid. If there is any entity in this nation which deserves support, it's the family farm. I'm behind you 1000%.
Although we have a net positive balance of trade in agriculture, it is nearly all in feedstock grains and soy. After discounting cotton, tobacco and catfish (not food), our 1998 ag balance-of-trade was only $8 billion positive, with a $22 billion net positive balance in grain. That means that we were in a net $14 billion dollar trade deficit in consumable food, and its getting worse.
FYI Rudder, of that $14 billion, we import of $8 billion worth of fish and export $2 billion.