Dayton Daily News | August 16, 2001 | Bob Dart
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the cities and suburbs wants the federal government to help farmers stay in business rather than selling their land to developers.
The House coalition has proposed changes to a 10-year farm bill that would switch some federal funds from traditional crop subsidies into conservation programs to reward small farmers for fighting the sprawl of subdivisions and shopping malls. When Congress returns from its August recess, debate will resume on the sweeping legislation that will set federal agriculture policy and cost taxpayers an estimated $171 billion over the next decade. Current farm policy technically expires at the end of September.
The 1996 Farm Bill - dubbed the "Freedom to Farm" legislation - was supposed to wean farmers from federal subsidies. But when prices for corn, wheat and other commodities declined and farmers were hit with droughts and floods, Congress responded. Federal farm program payments grew to $19 billion in 1999 and to a record $32 billion in 2000.
Federal funds are not distributed evenly to all farmers, however. Traditional subsidies go only to growers of "commodities" including grains, soybeans and cotton. There are no federal subsidies or price supports for farmers who grow fruits and vegetables or who raise livestock. While there are no direct subsidies for peanuts, tobacco and sugar cane or beets, those growers are effectively guaranteed a base price through federal controls on production. Dairy farmers are protected through federally enforced regional compacts.
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