Dairy gets squeezed by the feds

The Seattle Times ^ | 1 June, 2005 | Danny Westneat

[eastforker]

Please read on down the line that it is not a social problem but one of security to this nation.

[Feiny]

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Agriculture/BG1542.cfm

[Feiny]

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg1763.cfm

[eastforker]

Yes except for one point, this is a very old company, not a new upshoot corporation, they have been doing this before gov. intervention.

[Feiny]

Maybe I am missing your point.It is the new regulations that govt. in trying to enforce upon them that would put them out of business. They would be forced to give subsidies to bigger dairy farms.

The result of subsidizing the rich, more landed farmers is that they can reduce the prices of their goods, making it much harder for small farmers to compete. Rather than being the small family farmers’ savior, subsidies work against them.

[eastforker]

This family owned business has been around for 75 plus years. The gubmint is saying that this business has to subsidise smaller farms because they own their own cows and can compete cheaper. I would agree if this was a new company that moved in just to close the small farmer but that is not the case. We must never on the other hand ever let our small farmers go out of business, they are the ones that feed us daily because if we only support the big coops, who knbows who might own them in the future.

[eastforker]

Let me add something, has anyone here been following the farm crisis in Zimbabwe, no more food is being produced, mass starvation by the hands of that government, rich farmlands idle and the population starves. We must alway make sure our small farmers have the ability to produce food.

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

Not to worry all people have to do is vote straight republican ticket in the next election and put republicans in the white house senate and congress and as soon as the republicans area majority all thise intrusive bloated federal goverment garbage will stop over night.especailly if you elect george bush to the presidency it will stop because george bush is a reaganite conservative you know /HEAVY SARCASM

[eastforker]

I agree with you somewhat, however, some things must be preserved , mainly, our food supply.

[eastforker]

I chalenge any of your pings to refute my claims. We must preserve our food supply.

[Feiny]

Zimbabwe is a different matter entirely. The white farmers were either killed or forced to leave.

[freepatriot32]

We must preserve our food supply.

Shutting down this dairy will in no way shape or form protect the american food supply at all

[eastforker]

Let me make one more point, do any of you know what our national food reserve consist of, would you believe just five days! Thats right, if food could not be delivered, grocery store shelves would be bare in 5 days. Anyone here willing to forgo that?

[Feiny]

This family owned business has been around for 75 plus years.

It doesn't matter if they were only around 5 years. This policy is wrong. No one should have to pay for someone else to be stay business.

The gubmint is saying that this business has to subsidise smaller farms because they own their own cows and can compete cheaper.

I really think you are reading this article incorrectly. The subidies are going to larger dairies. This guy has 1% of the business. What happened to a free market economy?

We must never on the other hand ever let our small farmers go out of business, they are the ones that feed us daily because if we only support the big coops, who knbows who might own them in the future.

Did you read the links I sent you earlier? The subsidies aremostly going to BIG business. This is tax money going to prop up big businesses & that hurts the small guys.

[eastforker]

So you want to shut down this family business?

[eastforker]

Did you read my earlier statement, the big guys should not be receiving it, it was meant for the small guy.

[dcwusmc]

And what subsidies might those be? I see nothing to indicate this dairy gets one cent in subsidy monies, only that as a producer/bottler they are exempt from the usual USDA barbra striesand. Where do YOU get this info from? Or is it something you just pulled out of your butt?

[Feiny]

"We must alway make sure our small farmers have the ability to produce food."

You can do this as an individual by purchasing food at farmers markets. You don't need a federal program to take your money & give it to a large (or small) food producer to keep the stores full and the prices low. You either believe in capitalism & the free market or you don't.

[Feiny]

But, that is not the case. The big guys are getting them. Look at the numbers.

[eastforker]

read this:Yet the feds, backed by the biggest dairy processors in the West, want to force Smith Brothers and other do-it-yourself dairies to sell through the government-regulated system. They say this will help the small farmers who already sell milk to big processors.

But Smith Brothers, no milk monopoly with just 1 percent of the market, would have to pay subsidies to its competitors that exceed the dairy's yearly profit. Or it would have to break up its business, and no longer provide its unique cow-to-carton-to-doorstep service.