Farmer-bashing all the new rage

Washington Times ^ | Thursday, July 18, 2002 | S. Richard Tolman

[JohnHuang2]

Farmers are living high on the hog at the federal subsidy trough.

The fact is in 2001 farmers earned their lowest real net cash income since the Great Depression. In 2002, they suffered through the fifth straight year of record low prices for many commodities. And fuel prices are propelling production costs to an all-time record.

[JohnHuang2]

Thursday, July 18, 2002

Quote of the Day posted by Travis McGee

[Smokin' Joe]

There is a saying among the disgruntled here in North Dakota, especially around Congressional election time...

"If the Congress keeps saving family farms at the rate it has the past two decades, they should all be gone in a few years."

Farming is a hard life, but when you factor out the apparent wealth tied up in the means of production (land and equipment) few farmers are "rich".

[DoughtyOne]

I don't know many people who get up before dawn to feed the livestock and don't come to the house before sunset. Farming is a challenging unforgiving endeavor. I'm not completely confortable with the subsidies given. But I wouldn't be entirely comfortable if none were given either.

Note the subsidies given in foreign nations. It should also be noted what import/export fees are charged. Once again we come in on the business end of the farm broom handle. Folks, for all the talk, has anyone seen any evidence of FreeTrade? Our products suffer the highest import fees with other nations time and time again. Frankly this FreeTrade fraud has been the biggest heist in the history of the planet.

[quietolong]

Like to see some of these people put up a field of hay when it's 95/95%

[ko_kyi]

I think the leftist hostility comes from the belief that even small farmers are "rich", since they often own 2-5 million dollars worth of real estate. Most people don't realize how much land you have to work to have a household net income of say, $100,000/year after you pay for all the expenses and set enough aside to get through one or two bad years in a row.

[MJemison]

Thank you for posting this. It should also be noted that it is nearly impossible for US farmers to compete on a world market when their profit margins are so small. Few people realize how severely restricted US farmers are when growing crops. How many foreign nations who export foodstuffs to this country are restricting their grower's uses of DDT, lead arsenates, and other chemicals. Everyone here should think about that before popping those foreign-grown grapes into their mouths. And how do we know they are imported? We don't, because most packages aren't labeled, except those produced domestically. I buy nothing that is not labeled "Grown in (whatever state)" of the USA.

[Free the USA]

fyi

[agarrett]

Like to see some of these people put up a field of hay when it's 95/95%

  Hey, it's tough. No argument here.

  So, should the government (read: us) provide subsidies for every tough job?

Drew Garrett

[Koblenz]

But why should the government subsidize for weather issues? They don't subsidize other industries for weather related issues? Foreign subsidies exist for many other industries: just because they do it, why should we? I am not against farmers, but I think that in reality, the most efficent farming is large corporate farms, not small family farms. Less capital equipment per acre, less labor per labor, etc. IF we had no subsidies, we'd lose most family farms. But we'd have a streamlined, corporate farming sector.

As for the loss of the family farm? Well, no one makes cars in their garage anymore either, and only about 10 companies have 99% of the market share.

[NYCop]

I know firsthand how hard the average farmer works, and by no means are they rich. To all my friends in the cornbelt, we salute your efforts and someday you'll be appreciated...

[solo gringo]

We just received our insurance settlement on our disaster insurance.It was a joke it did not cover the cost of the propane to burn prickley pear must less other types of medicine or other health products for the livestock.the only was anyone can make money is the was hillary did it.we were up at 6am burning and doing what ever to keep our herd healthy our labor was for free.

[farmfriend]

Thanks John for this most excellent post.

Koblenz - You need to read this most excellent book on why we need people on the land, not corporations.

I sound like my name should be Bill or Ted, I'm having a most excellent adventure.

[Carry_Okie]

But why should the government subsidize for weather issues?

They shouldn't, but managing the land to support your urban existence is a valuable service that you don't pay for.

I am not against farmers, but I think that in reality, the most efficent farming is large corporate farms, not small family farms.

That might be true given production of a single good, however if we really considered the total expected actuarial benefit of family farms and paid for those services, they might outperform the corporatist with their ability to deliver a complex overlay of land management products and services. Corporate bureaucracy isn't so competitive dealing with that kind of complexity.

As for the loss of the family farm? Well, no one makes cars in their garage anymore either, and only about 10 companies have 99% of the market share.

And watch your freedom go down the toilet as they use that power to control the government to control the land to their benefit, or haven't you noticed? That's what most environmental regulations are all about.

When they export that agriculture overseas to unregulated economies elsewhere, what will be their power over you? Are you going to go to war to protect those supply lines? Do you care about pathogens or contaminants? If there is a disaster or war, where will you run? Who do you expect to care for you if your city was attacked? Do you expect the government to run out and confiscate that farm on your behalf?

You see, it's more complex than you realize, too complex for political resolution or management.

[gcruse]

someday you'll be appreciated...

Agriwelfare is more appreciation
than I want to pay for.

[Pining_4_TX]

Yeah, that Ted Turner, Scotty Pippen, and Sam Donaldson sure do sweat for their subsidies, don't they? What kind of crap is this! You notice that this piece is written by a lobbyist for the corn growers association, the same lovable people who want to force ethanol on all of us.

Most of this money goes to big agribusinesses, and the proof of that is that our weasel politicians couldn't even put a cap on the maximaum payments. It would be better for the taxpayers and the farmers to pay some of them to just get out of the business altogether. As long as the government is involved in screwing up the market, things will only get worse for all of us.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes, there are certainly down sides to our farm policies.  There would be down sides if the government got completely out of it as well.  Some of those down sides could likely be far worse than the current downsides.  I've heard credible arguements on both sides.  I come down on the side of farm subsidies for now.

The article was written by an advocate for farmers.  I don't see a problem with that.  On this forum there are very few representatives of farmer's points of view.  It seems only reasonable that an advocate speak for them.

There will be many who speak out against farm subsidies.

[Pining_4_TX]

What you are saying is that sometimes theft is justified. The government is taking money that belongs to one person to give to another. It is theft, pure and simple.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes it is theft. Generally I do not approve of the government taking our funds, but in the interest of a managed food supply, I do approve of it in this instance. When compared to the overall budget this is a small amount. Now, if you want to go after welfare and a myriad of other government run programs, I'm right behind you. Welfare, social security, medicare, DOE, I'm there...

[glc1173@aol.com]

The "chattering classes" - overwhelmingly in Manhattan and Washington - want to bash farmers?

Time for a one-week "vacation" from food shipments to alert them to the relative importance of Red Nation farmers and Blue Nation talkingheads to Blue Nation!