Do subsidies really help farmers?
Talk to almost everyone involved in agriculture today, including those in agri-business and leaders in farm organizations, and they will say that farmers couldn't make it without subsidies.
The federal farm program pays a farmer based on grain yields established in past years. Sometimes Congress approves additional payments called market loss assistance. Loan deficiency payments also are available when the posted county price for a grain drops below the loan rate.
What a deal! Or is it?
More and more individuals are beginning to speak out against subsidies.
Barry Weber, an Illinois commentator on agricultural subjects, thinks farm subsidies keep farmers subject and don't help them to produce for the market place. In a Grass and Grain editorial (Dec. 4, 2001), he said farmers, through farm subsidies, are financing those interests which seem dedicated to eliminating the independent farmer.
Many consumers throughout the world don't want to eat grain products made from grain grown from genetically-modified seed. They don't like to eat meat from animals implanted with hormones or fed antibiotic-laced feed.
Yet, land-grant colleges, seed companies, chemical companies, and researchers continue to push these things. And farmers go along to avoid being labeled "backward," or "unprogressive."
Farm subsidies make farmers dependent on the government for their existence. It is welfare, like it or not.
And don't forget that government can't give people anything without first taking it away from them.
— ROWENA PLETT
