WP: In North Dakota, Farmers Wary of Cuts to Subsidies

MEDINA, N.D. -- It's tough to make a living as a farmer in North Dakota these days, Owen Olson says. If it's not the diesel costs going up, it's the rain coming down -- or not coming down. Commodity prices rise and fall in rapid, repeated and unpredictable succession.

Olson, who farms 1,400 acres near here, is among the men and women who sow the seeds, harvest the crops and oppose this year's attempt by President Bush and Congress to cut federal farm assistance. They speak of hardship and fairness while questioning the votes cast for a president who scored big in the Midwest, in part by promising to do well by farmers.

"If it wasn't for the federal government here," said Olson, 39, "nobody would be farming."

No one is talking about eliminating federal subsidies, just reducing them. But in North Dakota, where more than three in four farmers receive payments -- the highest percentage of any state -- the proposals working their way through the hearing rooms on Capitol Hill are big news.

Bush proposed cuts of $5.7 billion from agricultural programs over the next 10 years as part of a deficit reduction package. The House Budget Committee set the figure at $5.3 billion, while its Senate counterpart said $2.8 billion should be trimmed.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23705-2005Apr3.html

they don't want to share their welfare with the poor. Yeah , yeah, it's not welfare. But a rose by any other name is still....

We are all going to have to make sacrifices to pay for Bush's tax cuts to the wealthy.

He sold us out, I'm sure, on many issues to take care of his folks, who have the very same interests as ND folks. I'm sure that the Dakotans are all just thrilled they elected a "male model" to replace Tom. To damn bad. And BTW, how many of us get paid for not working or not producing what ever we produce.

This screams for a pro-farm campaign ad in states like this.

Interesting how money going to a farmer isn't considered welfare by the Repubs.

I wouldn't want to pull the rug out from under them, but I wouldn't mind phasing out such subsidies, and overall caps seem to be a good way to do it, but there are ways to make your big farm look like a bunch of small farms....

Food prices wouldn't go up that much, we'd just have to import some (sugar, rice) from third world nations, who just might become independent of the WB/IMF.

Even if food prices did go up, it'd just mean people would eat less meat, and more grains and vegetable.

Modern variations of 'intercropping', sustainable farming, and organic farming can produce as high, or higher yields per acre than the 'green' revolution's use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides. They just require more labor, but not much. The methods tend to favor individually owned & operated farms, and require less capital.

and welfare to farmers and corporations far far exceeds welfare to poor colored women...or poor white women for that matter.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

PS - let em grow industrial hemp :-)

it has always amazed me.

I was raised on a farm in Iowa, and my father still lives on the family farm (he's one of those rare farmers who happens to be a Democrat). Republican administrations have always been bad for farmers, but most vote Republican anyway. They absolutely hate to see anyone else make a decent living. If their subsidies are slashed to the bone it will drive many out of business - and in 2006 they'll all line up to vote Republican anyway.

will make a go of these failing farms. Sans Cadillacs and $300k machinery

The sugar farmers here (and probably in the South and in Hawaii) are some of the biggest hangers on the federal teat.

And state's Lt. Governor is also one of the biggest recipients in the state.

What's funnier than hell is that all of the Red voters who grow sugar and cotton (think N.D., Florida, Louisiana, the south) are the ones who are going to take the biggest hit on this.

that so many of these folks actively support chopping down the size of the federal government.

let's not forget that their entire Congressional delegation is Democratic.

I have no sympathy for them. They are getting what they voted for.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Farmers bitch about those city people on welfare...the same ones that use those welfare and WIC checks to buy the farmer's milk and bread.......

....Now their welfare will be cut....bwhahahahaha

Note..I am the descendent of dairy farmers, up until my great-uncle sold the farm, all of us had been on the farm helping or doing something.