10 Myths from the Mainstream Media About U.S. Farm Policy

10 Myths from the Mainstream Media About U.S. Farm Policy

(click here to go to original source)

1) Myth: Rich farmers get all the money from the Farm
Bill.

Reality: Sixty-eight
percent of the Farm Bill goes to nutrition programs. Eleven percent goes to
farm commodity programs. And eight percent goes to conservation programs.

2) Myth: Farmers dont need government
support. They're getting rich off rising food prices.

Reality: Farmers receive less than 20
cents of the food dollar. Costs of production have skyrocketed. Since 2002,
farm expenses have increased 45 percent.

3) Myth: Rich farmers benefit the most from
the Farm Bill.

Reality: Big agribusiness companies
like Monsanto, Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland are the big winners. They
reap the bounty, while farmers do the work and take the risk.

4) Myth: Only rich farmers receive
subsidies.

Reality: Middle and small scale
family farmers also receive subsidies and in some ways are more reliant on them
to survive when times get tough.

5) Myth: If we eliminated subsidies, the
market would level the playing field for family farmers.

Reality: Without ensuring a fair
price, family farmers would more easily succumb to market volatility.

6) Myth: Farm subsidies are the main problem
with the Farm Bill.

Reality: Price deregulation is the
problem with the Farm Bill. Instead of targeting subsidies, the Farm Bill
should ensure farmers receive a fair price from big agribusiness companies, and
consumers are not gouged at the supermarket.

7) Myth: Our current farm programs are
outdated fossils from the Great Depression.

Reality: Our current farm programs
are nothing like what was passed in the 1930s, which ensured farmers a fair
price, cost taxpayers little and required conservation measures to qualify. Our
programs are a result of the disastrous 1996 Farm Bill, which removed the last
pillars of the New Deal farm program.

8) Myth: The Bush Administration was the
voice of reason pushing to cut subsidies for rich farmers.

Reality: The Bush Administration
insisted on keeping a certain type of subsidy that went to farmers, regardless
of price, because it was legal under World Trade Organization rules. The
reason? Because they want to strike a WTO deal for their big business friends
before they leave office.

9) Myth: Farmers benefit from expanded
exports.

Reality: Farmers don't export. Grain
companies like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland do. These companies make a
habit of buying low and selling high and are reaping record profits.

10) Myth: Agriculture doesn't deserve
special treatment from government.

Reality: Food is different than computers or
car parts. It is essential for life and health. Food production has an enormous
impact on the land, water and air. Farming is inherently risky, full of unknowns
like bad weather, pests, disease and price volatility. It is in all our
interest that government, rather than agribusiness, helps to manage
agriculture.