welfare for farmers (agri-business)

[handmade34]

I used to be a farmer, want to be a farmer and I love farmers and we must support local farmers, but--- information about subsidies is crucial

http://farm.ewg.org/farm/progdetail.php?fips=00000&progcode=corn

this site will let you know how much your neighbors are receiving in farm subsidies

"In 2006, the top 10 percent of corn subsidy recipients were paid 53 percent of corn subsidies"

[NickB79]

1. I have 23 family members on that list

Uncles, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins, etc, all living here in Minnesota.

The top two (two of my uncles) made $230,000 and $212,000, respectively, between 1995 and 2006.

Between my dad, 7 uncles, grandmother and now-dead grandfather, my immediate family raked in almost $1 MILLION in fed. subsidies in that timeframe.

And guess what one of their favorite topics to bitch about at family get-togethers is?

"Welfare queens" and how they're sucking up all their tax money, doing drugs and popping out more kids to get bigger welfare checks.

The irony is strong enough to strip the paint from the walls.

[handmade34]

3. wow, so you get it

I was working in South Dakota last fall and found this information while I was doing some research. Unfortunately, lots of smaller farmers could benefit from help and most of the subsidies go to very large farms/agri-business. Farmers work hard but often the money goes to perpetuate a practice or product that isn't neccesarily helpful (or may be harmful). we need to encourage more, and smaller, sustainable farms.

[B Calm]

2. Republican down the road is on the list

[handmade34]

4. my experience is generally

that the people/farms I know that receive the thousands of dollars in farm subsidies are the "independent" types. Again, no easy answers, but I believe that more of the money should go to encourage smaller sustainable farms