Posted on Sep 9, 2020
Global food prices have been rising during the coronavirus pandemic, hitting food security
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Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 2
I don't know how widespread this is. Some US farmers are tethered to federal subsidies due to the trade war with China. However, the amount of federal capital infusion is not sufficient to make investments in farm equipment or future operations. Farms operating at a loss leads to the course of action of shutting down.
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Maj John Bell
MAJ Ken Landgren - The vast majority of farm subsidies go to large corporate farm operations; particularly farms raising corn, soybeans, and wheat. They receive 70%+ of all farm subsidies. For the most part they are already financially secure, and can whether "the storm" for years. That was true before the trade war with China and hasn't changed since the trade war with China.
For the most part, small family owned farms don't get significant subsidies. Most single family farms have one or more of the adults living on the farm working a full-time, part-time, or seasonal job in order to keep the family farm afloat. That too was true before the trade war with China and hasn't changed since the trade war with China.
At one time the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was more heavily invested in small family owned farms, but while we small farmers) have farms to run full-time, plus side hustles. The corporate farms have armies of lawyers, accountants, and grant writers. They won the war for the CRP dollar.
My opinion is that the farm subsidies are what killed the family farm. Large conglomerates could enjoy the economies of scale and nurse at the government teat in a way small farms could not.
https://www.thoughtco.com/us-farm-subsidies-3325162
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/index
For the most part, small family owned farms don't get significant subsidies. Most single family farms have one or more of the adults living on the farm working a full-time, part-time, or seasonal job in order to keep the family farm afloat. That too was true before the trade war with China and hasn't changed since the trade war with China.
At one time the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was more heavily invested in small family owned farms, but while we small farmers) have farms to run full-time, plus side hustles. The corporate farms have armies of lawyers, accountants, and grant writers. They won the war for the CRP dollar.
My opinion is that the farm subsidies are what killed the family farm. Large conglomerates could enjoy the economies of scale and nurse at the government teat in a way small farms could not.
https://www.thoughtco.com/us-farm-subsidies-3325162
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/index
Are U.S. Farm Subsidies Corporate Welfare or National Necessities?
Farm subsidies are considered a prime area for budget cutbacks, but these are opposed by powerful farm lobbyists and members of Congress.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
Maj John Bell - Yes I read that as well. It is not fair. You know more than I do. I read farm bankruptcies went up as well.
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