News Coverage
Farm Bill Must Reflect The Times
Published May 20, 2008
New York is the financial and media centers of the world, but it's also big on agriculture business, which is why it is worth paying attention to how Congress and President Bush settle a multibillion-dollar farm bill.
Congress is supposed to renew the farm bill every five years and wants to authorize $300 billion for this go-around. New York farmers have not always fared well in these fights. That's because, traditionally, more than 50 percent of federal subsidies go to fewer than 10 percent of the producers, and most of them are Southern and Midwest growers of corn, wheat and cotton. New York dairy and apple farmers don't get anything like this kind of assistance but generally are aided when disasters strike.
Over the years, multimillion-dollar mega farms throughout the country have gotten way too much assistance, as Congress has refused to impose reasonable caps. This has to change. President Bush has taken up this battle, proposing the government cut back on subsidies for farmers earning $200,000 a year or more. This reasonable suggestion has been knocked back several times in Congress. If assistance is to be provided, more of it should go to smaller farmers and those using good conservation practices, such as those willing to enter into easements, whereby they receive some money in exchange for guarantees they won't sell their lands to developers and, thus, retain open space.
{}Better compromise needed
This year, the House and Senate passed differing versions of the bill, and the subsequent compromise has fallen short of what is needed.
A responsible farm bill also would provide more money for wetlands restoration and give incentives for farmers to bring alternative fuels to the market. Congress is at least trying to rectify some of the unintended consequences of that latter goal by scaling back the ethanol tax credit since biofuels are being blamed, in part, for a global food crisis. It's true this legislation does have some other good, important features, including increasing food stamp benefits and and other nutrition programs, such as expanding efforts to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to schoolchildren.
But the bill also would still make it possible for farms earning up to $1 million a year to qualify for crop subsidies. Believe it or not, this represents progress, since at one point, Congress seemed content on letting the subsidies continue with virtually no caps. The Bush administration has suggested it would be willing to accept a $500,000 income limit, but Congress has refused. Bush should veto the bill to see if Congress would be willing to do better. Too much is at stake to accept a lukewarm compromise.
{}On the Web
For a revealing look at how mega-farmers are being subsidized by taxpayers, go to the Web site created by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group at www.ewg.org
