Pro Farm Subsidies Essay

(Sub-Point # 1) One major influence on the great increase in the U.S.’s corn production is its great economic benefit for our local and national economies through tax revenue and employment. Corn is a subsidized crop in the U.S., meaning that American farmers are paid a guaranteed price by the government, in addition to the profit of their yield, just for growing corn (“U.S and Employment,” 2015). This creates a safety net for American farmers to start farming corn leading to the emersion of almost 2 million individual or family owned corn farms (“U.S and Employment,” 2015). Not only does

agricultural products, which might end Mexican crop subsidies. They argued that this would significantly reduce the income and affect the living standards of many southern Mexican farmers. They would not be able to compete with the subsidized, artificially fertilized, mechanically harvested, and genetically modified imports from the United States.

Agricultural subsidies is a very complex and controversial economic topic today. It will continue to be a hot topic as government continues it. It is largely debated in the United States as well as in other countries. The reason it is so largely debated is because it literally have an effect on the entire world market. Not to mention that the farm has been booming the last 5 to 10 years. This topic also tends to draw strong opinions in our area in particular due to the large agricultural community in our region. However, even within different states there are many supporters as well as opponents to these government subsidies.

America’s vast food supply has increased. Foods that were once hard to come by can be found in almost all the grocery stores across the nation. In the article “What’s Eating America”, by Michael Pollan, who is a professor of journalism, explains how the bounty of food came about. He writes about the creation of synthetic fertilizer and how it was used to fertilize crops and essentially make all the foods today. He writes about the harmful effects that are occurring as a result of the chemically made fertilizer. In another article called written by Katherine Spriggs, a student from Stanford University, she writes about the benefits of buying local versus becoming dependent on the import of food. She feels that buying from local farms

Although a 2002 agriculture law superseded many parts of FAIRA, acreage was still increased because of the growing demand for corn in animal feed, the need for corn in ethanol manufacturing, and the increased possibility to make food with corn byproducts. These seem to be good and fair reasons to focus our efforts on increasing output, however, the same issue arises: the more corn that is made, the less stable a livelihood farming becomes, regardless of the subsidies that the federal government provides.

Although farm subsidies all have their roots to one major piece of legislation, there are multiple variations that are common. One of such subsidy programs allows farmers to counter fluctuations in various aspects of their production. If prices for a crop take astounding hikes or fall dramatically, subsidies can provide in time of need. This is the most well-known farm subsidy program, but there are other aspects that get remarkably overlooked. Even insurance coverage, product marketing, research and conservation efforts are subsidized under the current Farm Bill. With the present situation, many Americans believe that the government carries too much control in the agricultural market. For a more detailed breakdown of where the funding in the Farm Bill goes to, see the pie chart below for a reference. These numbers are accurate as of the 2014 Farm Bill, per the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

The agricultural industry: the farms, plants, animals, and farmers, have supported this great country for so long, but lately we have turned our backs on it. Today, we live in a materialistic society, people wanting more and better items, not settling for products that will accomplish the same job.From looking at the fruits and vegetables in the grocery store, we see the bruised or smaller ones left, while the big and brightly colored ones are selected first. In our society today, changes are constantly being made to help expand and evolve the agricultural industry, but it has yet been able to do so. To this day farmers across this nation have not been completely successful in providing for the people who make up this country. In the stores

continuation in producing very high amounts of corn and different corn products which has only added to the corruption of the nitrogen cycle but also the agricultural system which has only negatively impacted the American diet. Pollan continues to support his claim of how the government supports and benefits farmers for their corn by bringing up that the US Department of Agriculture pays nineteen billion dollars to farmers each year for their continuation in the production of corn.

If Congress proceeds with legislative revision to SNAP and WIC will lead to economic change in the agricultural production sector in the U.S. economy. Legislative changes like SNAP recipients no longer being able to purchase items like soft drinks and prepackaged food would be substituted for food staples like rice and wheat. While the WIC program would be adding white potatoes to the list of healthier foods options. Because of these changes in SNAP Legislation will allow rice farmers to be better off, sugar farmers to be worst off, wheat farmers to be better off, and white potatoes farmers to be worst off because increased demand for food staples and decrease in demand in sugary products since they are no longer eligible

Astyk and Newton, in their essay: The Rich Get Richer, the Poor Go Hungry, explains that “around the world, industrial agriculture has consolidated land ownership into the hands of smaller and smaller populations” destroying local self-sufficiency (518). Individuals are no longer able to grow own fresh, healthy foods to feed their family. They now depend on industrially grown crops and processed foods loaded with chemicals for food. Additionally, because of the farm policy, farmers that continue to cultivate healthy produce like fruits and vegetables get little or no government support, thus the higher prices of fresh produce seen today at our grocery stores.

Poverty is an authentic life issue people all over the world continue to struggle with. There are many countries that try to help those in poverty, but a complete solution has not been found. Although there are countless definitions of poverty, according to Schwartz, he states in his article the United States Government says; “Poverty is a state of deprivation, or a lack of the usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions”. The government calculates poverty based on the total income a person may receive and it does not include non-cash supplements (Schwartz).

The welfare reform signed by President Clinton in the United States on August 22, 1966. This reform’s objective was to cause a change in the State’s Welfare system because of the increased level of poverty within the country. It was to offer a personal work opportunity and responsibility and was to offer support to many needy families and children within the country. This program had a focus on accountability and work to provide a state with the flexibility in addressing poverty challenges (Chan & Moffitt 2018). This direction undertaken by the UK Coalition government was in line with its plan towards a radical reform for the benefits associated with welfare that began at the establishment of the welfare state. One of the aims associated

Young’s musical and song writing influence awarded him with excellent praise, but none of his songs impacted others’ lives quite like his work in charities like the Farm Aid organization. Throughout the 1980’s farmers faced a situation similar to the one in the Great Depression. Prices for farm products and land were very low which forced millions of family farmers to move off of their own land. In 1985, Young worked with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson to create Farm Aid, an organization whose mission is to, “Raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land.” Since their start in 1985, Farm Aid has continued to become more successful by completing their mission and making more people

The farmers of our state have asked that we introduce legislation to provide subsidies for soybeans. Unfortunately, we will have to turn down their request. If we give subsidies to the soybean farmers, then the corn and wheat growers will ask for the same thing. Then it will be the cotton growers, citrus growers, truck farmers, and cattle raisers. In the end, the cost will be astronomical.

The Agriculture sector has changed monumentally over the past century in response to vast economic change and technological advancements. Farm subsidies are various forms of payments from the federal government put in place in an effort to stabilize prices, keep farmers in business, and ensure quality of crops. The federal government currently pays $20 billion in cash each year to US farmers and spent an estimated $250 billion between 1995-2005. Presently, a new farm bill is passed every five years