Subsidy debate weighs farmers vs. children: Vilsack

[Barb in Atl]

(This is an interesting way to frame the argument)

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5216AE20090302?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

Reuters
By Christopher Doering and Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers will need to choose between supporting rich farmers or feeding more hungry children amid a slumping economy and a surging deficit, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Monday.

Vilsack said he already has heard concerns about the Obama administration's plan to redirect subsidy payments for large farmers into nutrition programs as a way to help end hunger by 2015 and stem the rising tide of childhood obesity.

"We will do our best to frame this discussion in that way, so that people understand: 30 million children, 90,000 farmers," Vilsack told Reuters after speaking to people who work with the nation's food banks and anti-poverty groups.

"It is a tough choice, but it's a choice that folks are going to have to make," he said.

[Taverner]

1. And there were folks here who doubted Vilsack

I'm sincerely hoping he pulls a Henry A. Wallace in his position :thumbsup:

[Still Sensible]

2. I think the issue should come down to some means test

for farmers applying for subsidies. We don't want to unnecessarily injure small and family farm operations, but we absolutely need to turn off the money spigot on large, multi-million dollar annual profit farms and conglomerate farm operations.

[Tumbulu]

3. I am an organic small farmer

My dream would be a complete elimination of all farm subsidies and a huge increase in food stamps available for all who want it.

Farm subsidies encourage farmers to "farm the government" or less politely "stick it to uncle" that is the typical rethug farmer talk, I am not kidding.

Catastrophic farm insurance should be available to farmers through the government, but all these complicated programs really do not encourage farmers to grow what people want or are willing to pay for.

If you ask actual organic farmers who have created the entire market despite the USDA and the land grant universities being against them from the get go what they would like, you will hear a majority of them saying to just leave farmers alone, let us all grow crops under normal conditions and give the money to the consumers so that they can pay for the healthy food. Healthy food does cost more to produce than chemical food, which is what the USDA has promoted all these years with their farm programs.

All the non profit groups who supposedly support organic farming are clamoring for more money from the USDA to support organic farming, but those of us on the ground just want to be left alone. You have no idea how much paperwork is involved in these programs. You spend all this time filling out forms and not really doing the work of farming.