What is your opinion on farming subsidies?

Answer 1

Large corporate farms obviously don't need subsidies.

I have a hard time believing small farmers need them as well (at times), when I see these farmers driving brand new p/u trucks around town. Ever been by an Ag association meeting? There is enough brand new steel parked at the place to build a battleship with.

As for the Dairy (milk) subsidies discussed by captainobvious, California produces more dairy products than Wisconson does now. I doubt the issue has anything to do with shipping milk across country.

Answer 2

I live in a farming community and see how "farming subsidies" work. There is a swamp down the road from here that has been on the "set-aside" program for years and years... problem is; it's a "Wetland" and could not be farmed even if the farmer wanted to farm it. So each year, he gets paid good money for not growing anything on land he CAN'T grow anything on anyway.

Then, they take that free money and build a nice new house, buy up old farm houses and keep their undocumented workers in - you know... kind of like "The Company Store" thing. Pay 'em dirt wages, then take the money back in rent.

Farmers do not have to comply with child labor laws, or minimum wage.

It’s a good gig if you can get one.

Answer 3

Why shoudn't all businesses be subsidized?
Because losses are a tax write off.
( I think the smaller farmers it is a different story, and to compete they may need the subsidies, we can't lump then together).

I say no more freebies anyone that isn't needy. And by needy I do not mean able bodied people who just don't want to work.

Answer 4

surprisingly I learned about it and support it from an extreme liberal on the Ag committee. He used a milk farm as an example. the biggest milk farms are on the east coast. the cost to ship to the west coast for them is extensive and if they had to do it it would raise the cost of milk on the west coast. there are smaller milk farms in middle America that can ship milk to the west cheaper but they cant ship east because that is covered by the larger farms able to produce cheaper by volume. If the smaller farms collapse the bigger farms now have a monopoly and can sell to the Midwest and west as much as they want due to the fact that there is no competition. So to keep the cost down for everyone they must give some subsidies to the smaller business to stay in business.

Answer 5

All I know is I can't find a decent tomato in the produce section.

Like everything, it's only good if it's utilized correctly. It should be used to encourage farming, not manipulate the industry.

Answer 6

Don't complain about farmers with your mouth full.

IF the subsidies went to farmers that actually needed them, I'm all for it. If it caters to corporate farmers and ignores family farms, small business farms, then it helps no one.

Answer 7

don't call it capitalism if there are subsidies. It seems to be a form of welfare that the Republicans DO accept.

Answer 8

This is the United States, not the Soviet Union, they should be ELIMINATED!

Republicans always vote for free trade, farm supports distort the market. But, it's republicans who give farm supports and tax dollars to big business. I guess it depends on who's ox is being gored, huh? Just one more form of welfare, but this welfare goes to people who don't need it.

Answer 9

They are necessary and fulfill a vital role. They keep our farming globally competitive, and capable of feeding almost the entire world.

Answer 10

Completely out of control.

Truth Seeker is correct.