Guest guest Posted August 31, 2001 Report Share Posted August 31, 2001 don't know if you are all aware but a new ag policy is due out in 2002. now is the time to let your voice be heard. to follow is my view of how subsidies are currently paid. a farmer receives payments on a corn base. or what his land has typically produced in corn yield and acres in the past. this program has encouraged volumes of corn to be grown. the more acres a farmer runs the bigger the payment. and a conventional farmer typically does not make money on the corn..the profit comes from the payments. government officials are pressured to keep the policy the same; 1. they get reelected by providing cheap bread and milk to the populace 2. cheap corn and beans help balance the trade deficit 3. big manufacturing sells more tractors..more genetically altered seed...more chemicals...when the farms are large. there is a movement to alter the policy to encourage sustainable agricultural practices including crop rotation etc...but this movement does not have the big $'s behind it and the populous is more motivated by cheap bread and milk. it takes a big financial risk for a farmer to switch farming practices from conventional to sustainable...it is not a 1 or 2 year 'get out and do it' process. the land goes into shock for a few years...the yields and return do not come over night...etc... anyway..I am not an expert but i do have a few insights based on being a new farmer and I am able to see both sides of the issue to a slight extent if you are interested in change in policy..now is the time to have your voice heard (or maybe too late)..contact your senator and others on the ag committee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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