LJD> It starts at the Federal level at the tune of 6 billion dollars per year. I know very little about the fine details except just about anybody in my area with a tractor, planter and access to farmland had been doing it. And - I've been asked by several if they could plant on my land. It's gotten so now that no other crops are being grown because of the huge ethanol subsidy.
I know the Federal Government had been spending 6 billion dollars a year on the ethanol subsidies and that is available in any state. Right now much of that "funny" money is set to dry up in Dec, 2012. But - I'll believe that when I see it actually end.
You're right, you haven't looked this up any at all.
There are no longer any subsidies for ethanol, that ended December 2011.
The 6 billion the feds spend on the 'Farm Program' less than 30% goes to farm programs. The rest goes to school lunches, whatever the food stamp program is now called, and other social welfare programs.
Of the money spent on actual farmers, many of the programs are again social justice deals, for minorities.
Very little of that 6 billion is spent on commercial grain farmers.
Most farmers need to work, or have their spouce work, a town job to get health care coverage. It is very common for a farmer to work a 'real job' these days and farm 1000 acres, that's just how it is, farming costs too much to do it on your own.
Land rent allows farmers to run enough acres to pay for the fuel, fert, and m,achinery they need to farm. It is very common in any business to rent the buildings and lease the machinery used - auto, fridge, retail, any business these days is more likely to be leasing than to own.
So - I mean this nicely - you really don't know what you are talking about, in the quote you really don't have anything right.....
I understand where you are coming from, and I don't take your put downs personally.
But if you look into it a little bit, you'll find you are about 77% wrong in what you believe.
And I can agree with you that we can improve things, and cut out some govt waste.
Just the other day I read they wqere paying $60,000 govt grant to put some art work on a old building that is falling down on main street, supposed to really help out my town of 15,000 people somehow?
If $30 an acre govt payments are too much for you to handle, are you complaining about the art grants, and the petrolium company subsidies, and the autoworker subsidies, and....
Well, you understand?
The 'Farm Bill' has anice name to it, and has a big budget associated with it, so I understand where it is easy to pick on it. But very little of it goes to farmers, and what does mostly goes to good programs to keep our food supply stable and cheap.
We can change that, ok, but you will be ending food stamps, school lunches, and boy you think food prices went up, wait until there is no safety net from the Farm Bill, food prices will _really_ jump without that!
Hope you are willing to live without yout govty gravy too tho, what is it you do again for work? Can we look at how the govt assists your proffession? Or, is that gonna be tightly guarded?
--->Paul
