Our position: The new farm bill deserves a swift veto by Presid...

House and Senate conferees in charge of U.S. farm policy have raised a rotten bill fit for the compost heap.

[TCasey]

The U.S. government is so influenced by special interests -- such as the agriculture lobby -- that is becoming dysfunctional. Some of its policies, such as subsidizing tobacco production and paying farmers millions not to grow other crops, border on the insane.

[Common Sense]

It's also insane that the Sentinel didn't mention that the House and Senate leadership (Pelosi and Reid) championed this bill along with the Dem majorities in both chambers. If there is a way to pass out my money to special interests (along with the promise of more food stamp and other "giveaway" programs) as noted at the very end of the editorial, they'll do it !!!(I wonder where Obama and Clinton stood on this issue.....oh yeah, higher taxes and more spending....they're both for it)!!!!

[Slim Ashley]

Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez have done nothing for the tax payer. They have done nothing for the consumer. The have been making wealthy farmers wealthier. This is not a farm subsidy bill it is a farmer enrichment bill and the only ones getting a return on this bill are the politicians in the form of campaign contributions.

When it comes to spending money watch the democrats. Folks, they will make the republicans look like Scrooge. They blame the republicans for the deficit. Under the democrats you ain't seen nothing yet. They really know how to buy votes.

[Dave]

I am afraid that this will continue under a Democratic controlled Congress. When Republicans had control they did not do any better and thus they lost control. Maybe they can learn from this.

[Slim Ashley]

I forgot to mention our U.S. Representative from district two, Allen Boyd. He is proud to tell you he is a fifth generation farmer. What he won't tell you is that he is skilled at cultivating the farm subsidies. Check the ewg.com farm subsidy data and you will find that Rep. Boyd received, 2003-2005, close to a quater of a million dollars. Now that's knowing how to cultivate.

[Pooh Bah]

Grab bag handouts to industrial farms has got to stop.

[Carolyn]

While commodity crop farmers are enjoying high prices after years of barely breaking even, input costs are skyrocketing - fuel, fertilizer, seed and chemicals have all seen double digit increases. Livestock producers get no subsidies, no direct payments and have watched any profit margin go down the drain as corn prices rise. Direct payments are a result of WTO demands that support is not tied to production, not soemthing farmers requested. Farm bills are written for bad years, not for the current year. Food security depends on strong farm safety nets to keep farmers in business when crop prices fall, as they always have.
How come the editorials don't address the subsidies the petroleum industry continue to harvest? Go visit the closest farm you can find and tell me the farmers are rich...

[Charlton Heston]

Common Sense wrote:

It's also insane that the Sentinel didn't mention that the House and Senate leadership (Pelosi and Reid) championed this bill along with the Dem majorities in both chambers. If there is a way to pass out my money to special interests (along with the promise of more food stamp and other "giveaway" programs) as noted at the very end of the editorial, they'll do it !!!(I wonder where Obama and Clinton stood on this issue.....oh yeah, higher taxes and more spending....they're both for it)!!!!

Common Sense, unfortunately if you go back and look almost all of these subsidies were put in place by REPUBLICANS! and also, the current bill has broad support among Republican lawmakers.
Check your facts please, unless you don't really care what the facts say and just want to blame someone.

[Orlando]

VOTE LIBERTARIAN!

Libertarians don't believe in government interferance in free markets.

[Profile in Courage]

Yet non one seems to oppose it. Why do our congressional representatives support sugar subsidies? Are there some fair arguments that sugar should be supported? Why aren't we pushing ethanol from sugar instead? It would be empowering to hear one public servant trash the sugar subsidies in this newpaper.

[ConWarrior]

ALL subsidies should cease and decist. All this altruism is what got us into the trouble we are in now.
It is NOT the job of government to take money from one group and distribute to another on some B.S. percieved "need".

Its the wolf of communism repackaged in a warm furry kitten.

[Alan in KS]

As someone from a farming state, I have only two words to say: Thank you.

Thank you for exposing this fraud.

[Gloom and Doom]

Agree. Most "farms" are giant Agra corporations. They have no need to taxpayer money and if they can't make if farming, they need to get out of the business. More something for nothing. Sounds like something the socialist Democrats would come up with. Give more of our money to those who do nothing and don't need it.

[Bob]

If you think farming is so easy, put your money where your mouth is. After you invest in one to two million dollars in land, and buy another million dollars of equipment you are ready to start farming. Of course you also have to spend $100,000 or more on fuel, another $100,000 on seed, another $100,000 on fertilizer and chemicals for weed and insect control. Then you take your chances with the weather and the markets. If you do it right, you might be able to do it again next year. If you are willing to work 12-15 hour days 6 and 7 days a week from March to September. Otherwise, STFU.

[Slim Ashley]

If you can't make a living farming seek another occupation. Enough said.

[real information]

Gloom and Doom wrote:

Agree. Most "farms" are giant Agra corporations. They have no need to taxpayer money and if they can't make if farming, they need to get out of the business. More something for nothing. Sounds like something the socialist Democrats would come up with. Give more of our money to those who do nothing and don't need it.

false, both by individual farm and by number of acres farmed.
Sounds like the bill has passed the Senate ... and that it will override the veto.

[doug]

this bill will pass the house has a veto proof majority and the senate rarely vote against farmers can you say override. The bill could be better but at least the money is going to AMERICANS instead of damn foriegners who hate us.

[DeereOne]

Slim Ashley wrote:

If you can't make a living farming seek another occupation. Enough said.

Obviously you don't grow much... Over two-thirds of the spending from this bill goes to the program once known as Food Stamps. And Slim, what do you think you're going to eat when broke farmners can't afford to grow? The bag the flour used to come in? You probably don't know how to bake or cook either... Check out what Nelson has to say:
May 16, 2008

Dear ____,

After months of hard work and laborious negotiation, Congress has passed its first farm bill in 6 years.

In a time of concern over rising food prices, this bill provides a substantial increase in food assistance to our nation's low-income families. Nearly three-fourths of the total spending of the farm bill goes to nutrition programs such as food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

For the first time in history, the farm bill recognizes the integral role of specialty crops in our nation's food supply. This is a major victory for our Florida farmers who lead the nation in production of specialty crops like citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, snap beans, bell peppers, squash and watermelon. It provides nearly $3 billion in research, block grants to states, pest and disease control, farmers' market promotion, and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

And great strides have been made in this bill for conservation and energy programs. Florida's natural resources stand to benefit tremendously from increased funding for conservation, which will allow the state to optimize participation in land preservation, environmentally friendly land management practices, and easement programs. This legislation also notably encourages advancements in cellulosic energy, which will allow us to explore the production of ethanol from agricultural products that we don't otherwise eat—products Florida has in abundance.

The farm bill is not perfect, but it increases funding and support for integral programs while also making reforms to a sometimes abused system. It is a good bill for Florida's families and farmers, and I hope the president will end his veto threats and sign the bill into law.

OK OK granted, large land developers in California who also happen to be partners in a farming operation should have to actually produce a certain quantity of ag product in order to qualify for any subsidy, don't lump all the farmers in with the rich. I'd like to see you rise your body out of bed at 5am to take care of 8,000 birds in commercial poultry barns... you're probably some light-weight who doesn't do anything agriculturally related.