U.S. Farm Subsidies Up For Debate
Here’s a name you don’t hear everyday, Earl Butz, but he’s had a profound effect on what we eat as consumers, and the economic well-being of farmers. Here’s what Wikipedia says about him:
In his time heading the USDA, Butz revolutionized federal agricultural policy and reengineered many New Deal era farm support programs. His mantra to farmers was “get big or get out,” and he urged farmers to plant commodity crops like corn “from fencerow to fencerow.” These policy shifts coincided with the rise of major agribusiness corporations, and the declining financial stability of the small family farm.
And we know that corn in turn lead to cheap soft drinks, chicken mcnuggets, and a lot of overweight North Americans.
On the farm, the multi-billion dollar farm subsidy programs, and new subsidies to support ethanol production, mean U.S. farmers have had record earnings, while many Canadian farmers have been struggling. Think of the Maine potato grower getting a cheque in the mail for grain in a rotation crop. The Maritime potato farmer doesn’t.
And despite lots of saber rattling by U.S. Republicans to slash the U.S. budget deficit, it looks like agriculture subsidies are safe.
http://ictsd.org/i/news/bridgesweekly/101373/
and a response today:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/dont-end-agricultural-subsidies-fix-them/?ref=opinion
More on the impact of U.S. Farm subsidies here:
http://foodmatters-petrie.blogspot.com/
Ian Petrie
