Subsidy Creep
Pork and Produce
Not every American farmer relies on federal subsidies. Watermelon, potato, garlic, berry, and other produce farmers have stuck it out on their own and done well; their crops bring in $52 billion a year, about half the agricultural value of the United States. But increased foreign competition has them scared, so now they're pleading for special treatment in the next agriculture bill. Among other favors, they want federal money for advertising overseas and land conservation.
Their main problem? Other farmers. Any help they might get is likely to come out of the same pot of money now given to growers of staple food. Corn and wheat farmers have enjoyed federal support since the Great Depression, and they aren't anxious to hand a couple billion of "their" dollars to people who grow pansies, grapes, and lemons.
Producers contend they're not looking for direct handouts, just some extra cash for marketing and research. After all, they say, everyone else gets a slice of the pie. In a November speech Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns agreed, arguing that produce growers should get the same treatment as corn and wheat farmers if our farm policy is to be "equitable, predictable and beyond challenge."
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
ldhnty