What unintended consequences has the U.S. Federal Farm Program had on the success of young commercial farmers?
Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at
5:40 am
I am a 34 year old famer, attorney and agribusinessman who is questioning whether the tremendous subsidies given to commercial grain farms (gross sales over 0,000) has had the unintended consequences of preventing the youth of agriculture from entering farming or succeeding in growing a successful business. I am a recipient of such subsidies and must continue as such Cheap Cialis in order to compete with other (often older) farmers. As each day passes, I question whether farmers would be better off left to a purely economic market and whether taxpayers (and the world market) will someday decide that they are tired of sending me subsidies. How should I prepare?
save money
The feds subsidize your operation because they (and hopefully the US people alike) feel it is important to maintain a domestic food supply of basics like corn and wheat and not allow the US to become import dependent (like we are on oil). I don’t know where you draw the connection between age and subsidies, but as I see it, if it weren’t for the subsidies, the vast majority of heartland farmers would go out of business all together, leaving no business for their children to move into. So in that respect, I would say that subsidies HELP continue the family farm.
If you are worried yourself about going out of business, you already have a law degree (wow) and I would say you are pretty well set to move to town and set up shop.
What is it you want to prepare for? The next few years or later in life?
Farming is not an easy business–you have my respect.