What Does Your Local Farmer Make?

[rancar]

In the interest of fair disclosure and public accountability in the wake of Enron accounting scandals and bad business practices, see the attached links to see what your local neighbor makes in farm subsidies each year. Note that not all recipients are your local, friendly farmer.

http://ewg.org/farm/

 

[rdln]

Not saying you do, but how many state road dept people get perks from asphalt companies and pavers that put in roads that dont last more than 5 years. If subsidies help prevent my neighbor from selling to a developer, I am for it.

 

[TerryinMD]

Yep, did a search on my ZIP code and found quite a few names I recognize. I am going to research on how I can take advantage of some of these programs.

I have paid plenty to our fair government for programs I do not participate in or will ever participate in and will try to benefit from any program that is made available to me.

To be honest, most of the monies being made available are chump change compared to what the Governments wastes on other programs.

Terry

 

[rancar]

"...most of the money being made available are chump change."

You're right Terry. When I did the search in my neighborhood most locals were lucky to be getting a couple thousand K. But, there were a few real heavy lifters in my County including my tenant farmer who was in the top ten and received subsidies of $126K /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Now, I know why he's been able to promptly pay his land rent. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Regards,
Bob Ancar
Cambridge, NY

 

[rancar]

Steve,

The New York State Department of Transportation awards paving projects based on low bid. We are required by law to do this. We also spec out paving projects with 10-12 year life cycles. If a paving contractor bids low price but has a known reputation for shoddy work, we consider this in the award decision. More likely than not, the next lowest bidder will receive the award (provided they have a solid prior reputation with the Department). If a State DOT employee is ever found to be receiving kick-backs for project awards, they are quickly disciplined and in all likelihood terminated. Things have changed alot from 30-40 years ago.

As for the subsidies, I fully agree with you. But, I think the point of the website was to simply inform the public what was happening with these farm subsidy monies, for good or for worse. They posted this information in the interests of fair disclosure and to inform the public how public policy decisions are made. But, yes, if your neighbor or mine for that matter qualifies for these subsidies, I would bend over backwards to get them to apply. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Regards,
Bob Ancar
Cambridge, NY

 

[Tractor_Barn]

Intresting site. I saw some of my neighbors listed. I have no problem with it at all. If the government really wants to help domestic agriculture, they should stop the imports and give the farmers a chance. I grew up raising hogs and current prices aren't any better than 40 years ago. Of course, equipment, taxes, fuel, seed and fertilizer is the same too...yeah right.

 

[rancar]

Hey TractorBarn,

What's a USDA approved sausage kitchen? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[BHarrison]

There was only one in my area...the poor guy only recieved $1.26.

 

[Tractor_Barn]

Licensed sausage shop...lots of hoops to jump through to get the USDA and county health boards to let you make farm-made sausage. They want you to be Hillshire Frams. I just want to be a little sausage shop.

 

[cedarranch]

Thanks for the links. Found 3 of my neighbors on the list.

 

[cowboydoc]

I don't see any problem with this at all. I'm from a farming and ranching background and we never did care much for the govt. interference. If you're going to take public money then it should be public knowledge. There's no reason at all that is shouldn't be made public. After all like people forget it's our money that pays these bills.

 

[MDNick]

I agree totally with you cowboydoc. That money WAS my money. My mixed feelings are in the handouts in general, not in seeing it posted. Public money, public information.

 

[CVHoss]

Since I'm not a farmer, can anyone explain a couple of terms for me?

Market Loss Assistance
Loan Deficiency Payments

These are listed on the individual breakdowns of payments, and I was curious as to their meanings.

Thanks,
Hoss

 

[cowboydoc]

Hoss,
You really don't want to know but I'll tell you. Market loss assistance is what the govt. pays the farmers to make up for the amount of money that the crop should have made to est. a profit for the farmer. If corn is at $1.98. Well the govt. will pay you another 20-50 cents a bushel so you can make a profit after you have sold it. Oh but it gets better. You can take adv. of a very, very low interest loan from the govt. as well or NO INTEREST to play the futures market and with their MONEY. It's complicated but basically they pay you when the price isn't right or pay you to hold onto it and sell when you can make a profit.

Secondly on loan defic. payments if you cannot make your payments because you didn't make enough from your crops then the govt. will pay back the amt. that keeps you from foreclosure. Now nevermind the fact that you went out and bought a new $250,000 combine last year and now can't make the payments. That's the abuse. It was designed to help the little guy stay afloat in bad years but now, like that idiot that promotes his tax loophole book on tv, people have abused it and are getting big bucks for getting too far into debt. Alot of the big corp. do it on purpose so they can show a loss and get the assistance to pay back loans.