Combines See how you stack up with farmers in your area from FSA office

What is the siteIJ

www.ewg.org

Harkin and Daschle have been pushing Neil Harls conservation plans in the new farm bill. Do you suppose they are trying to pacify their buddies in the Environmental Working Group (EWG)IJ Tom in MN

The site claims the amounts are the "subsidy" we received. It appears to me that they have included amounts of 9 month loans you have taken - but not credited the payoff of the loans! That makes the info so blatantly wrong that someone should sue the pants off of them!

I can not believe that web site. That is an invasion of privacy in the biggest way. Other than government offices I can't think of another instance where a person's name and a portion of their salary was published. They need to put a note at the bottom that says that the farmer spent 10% more than his payment amount just to receive it. my $.02. WW

The information can be a bit misleading. For instance. Some farmers recieve from multiple counties so they may not rank high in any one county but collectively they may recieve a lot. I also see several farms split between husband and wife. So one by themselves may not rank high but together it is another story. Another item to consider is whether the farmer share rents or cash rents his ground. Cash renters recieve 100% of the payment on the land where as a share renter would get less. That brings up another interesting fact. EWG says that something like 80% of the payments go to 20% of the farmers. Well, landlords who share rent are going to get half what a tenant recieves in a 1_3-2_3rds rent. Also, a lot of farmers have more than one tenant so that 80% of farmers getting 20% of the payments are a lot of landlords instead of actual farm operations. I know it looks like a lot of money but I don't know many farmers better off now than they were 5 years ago. So, the payments are just keeping us afloat. It would not take much to live without the payments.....about a 50 cent rise in corn and wheat and a dollar rise in beans would pretty much eliminate the need for assistance. That is not asking for much really. Those prices would just be average, at best, over the last 10 years or so.

They say it is public because we get these checks from the federel government. And I said on another site that they should also publish all those people that has gotten welfare in the last year ,everyone that works in the FSA offices,all federal workers for that matter. Are not all of these people payed with tax payers money ,making them no different then usIJIJIJIJ Of course all we are doing is feeding the nation ,and that isnt all that important thoughIJIJIJIJ Illinois Gleaner

Take a look at the number of high $ farmers in Wash, DC... what do they grow thereIJ. How many tractors or combines are sold in DC.... (good straight line) It looks like reports come in through offices in counties crops are grown. This is interesting... I thought there were limits of farm payments, evidently not.

Agriculture is the only buisness that truley creates wealth. It is the backbone of every successful economic system on earth and the gov't. knows that. The farm subsidies are the most fair subsidies that the goverment has instituted. By taking taxpayer dollars they invest it in food production. This keeps food plentiful and cheap. Everybody eats and receives the benefit of his taxes. That's not so with most other government subsidies. Airlines receive government funds but I don't fly very often. Other public transportation systems receive my tax dollars but I very seldom us them. Planned Parenthood receives my tax dollars whether I agree with their methods or not. Millions of our tax dollars are given in subsidies to organizations I totally disagree with and may even spend my own money to lobby against. When someone is displeased with farm subsidies ask them to please not talk with their mouth full. Would they rather pay $3.00 for a loaf of bread, $4.00 for a gallon of milk, would they rather wait for hours in line to get meat, fruit and vegetables. Talk about society in a panic. The gas lines would look small compaired to what would happen if the public thought they couldn't walk up to their local Piggly Wiggly and choose from 8 dozen varieties of breakfast cereals! The way I see it they can pay me now, or pay me later.

VERY well said