KTTC-TV reports on the Farm Bill mark-up in the House Ag committee:
. . .Rick Alberts farms corn, dairy and hay at his Pine Island home; something he took over from his parents some 30 years ago.
He's listening to what's going on with the new Farm Bill, which will affect thousands of family farmers nationwide.
"Most people think it's been a very good farm bill," says Rick Alberts.
It's not set in stone, but the farm bill is making progress.
So far, a new subsidy rule is in the works.
"When you have guarantees it's hard to have a loss and that's what the small family farm wants that, but the larger farm also takes advantage of that," says Alberts.
The House Agriculture Committee is trying to change that by taking steps to eliminate federal subsidies for high-income farmers who make more than 1-million dollars a year.
Current law only disqualifies farmers whose income exceeds 2.5-million dollars.
It's something committee member Tim Walz of Minnesota says will benefit small farms.
"We significantly reduced the eligibility in terms of what you can make by 60 percent," says Representative Tim Walz, "Free up some money that hit our family farmers in a much more direct way."
But, Alberts doesn't believe it will affect him and other local farmers.
"I think the big advantage of lowering that is simply public relations. It looks bad when the subsidies get around that extremely wealthy people re getting some farm payments," says Alberts.
Some critics want to wean farmers off subsidies altogether but that could drive up food prices for consumers.
"The commodity payment's are fantastic way to maintain stability of prices and maintaining a safety net for our producers to maintain stable food prices," says Congressman Walz.
And Alberts says the farmers he knows believe government programs do have a place in a modern agriculture industrial society. . .
The Mankato Free Press editorializes:
The winds of change have been blowing against farm subsidies for years. And now, it appears those subsidies will begin to erode
The House Agriculture Committee, the longtime protector of subsidies, voted Wednesday to prohibit farm subsidies going to farmers averaging income of more than $1 million a year. It would also prevent farmers from collecting payments on different farm “corporations” owned by the same people. Current law allows farmers earning as much as to $2.5 million per year to be paid the subsidies.
The Agriculture Committee’s passage of the bill signals a kind of sea change for agriculture. Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., described the bill as a good “compromise” to another being floated by members of his own party that aims to do away with subsidies and replace them with a savings/insurance program.
The compromise bill is a worthwhile starting point. Peterson says it will save taxpayers $226 million over five years. The fact that millionaire farmers get taxpayer subsidies has not been an easy sell for farm state lawmakers to others in Congress. And more and more, larger populations on the East and West coasts, whose vegetable and fruit growers get virtually no subsidies, are not ready to swallow Midwest farm subsidies.
Even some Midwestern state lawmakers are balking. Wisconsin Democrat Rep. Ron Kind appears to see the writing on the wall. He has proposed doing away with subsidies and replacing them with a government-subsidized savings account that allows farmers to sustain their business in times of low prices or crop losses. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, supported that plan earlier, but apparently is tentative about it now, given her political need to have farm-state Democrats win re-election.
Bigger issues also are at play. The U.S. long ago signed on to playing by the rules of the World Trade Organization, an international body charged with mediating unfair trade subsidies among trading partners. More and more, those farm subsidies are being challenged by other countries.
Many countries competing with us for world agricultural markets get no subsidies from their governments. It will be difficult, if not impossible, for a World Trade Organization court to rule in our favor when the inequities are so obvious.
And the WTO has enforcement power and can impose penalties such as allowing tariffs on our own exports. Farm subsidies are being attacked on two fronts. Chairman Peterson sees this and is attempting to reduce subsidies gradually.
Farmers may have to get used to the idea of fewer and fewer, lower and lower subsidies sooner rather than later.
Davis news release
We received a press release about fundraising from Republican Brian Davis's campaign. An excerpt:
During the second quarter, Brian Davis for Congress reported $17,100 in contributions to the campaign. Davis recently filed his candidacy with the FEC on June 1, 2007 . No loans have been made to the candidate’s campaign.
“We have just begun to get our campaign off the ground and are excited about the early support and positive feedback we have received. We are looking for the 3rd and 4th Quarter fundraising numbers to be the true measuring stick for our campaign,” said Davis .
Davis has spent the early weeks of his campaign traveling the district attending county fairs, parades and Republican events. Davis has been busy introducing himself to Republican activists who will select the Party’s nominee next year.
“I am gratified by the encouragement and support from Republicans across the district. I sense Republicans’ desire for an outside perspective, not someone who has spent a lifetime in government,” concluded Davis . . . .
Draw your own conclusions.
More support for Pfielsticker
The Winona Daily News carries a couple of letters of support for DFL-endorsed candidate Linda Pfeilsticker. Eric Bartleson writes in Select a winner — vote for Pfeilsticker:
Legislative District 28B is fortunate to have an individual with the exceptional qualifications and unblemished character of a Linda Pfeilsticker willing to step forward as a candidate to replace Steve Sviggum in the Minnesota Legislature.
I have had a number of opportunities to work with Linda in situations where she demonstrated the unique ability to listen to all sides of a complex issue, frame the issue in an understandable manner, and explore
collaborative solutions that benefit a majority of those affected by the issue. Pfeilsticker has demonstrated that she is an excellent listener and an effective public speaker.
Her experience teaching social studies has equipped her with the background to support and develop legislation that places needed resources where they will have the greatest impact on increasing student achievement. Select a winner — vote for Pfeilsticker in the DFL primary and the special election.
Gerald Strauss agress in Linda Pfeilsticker for Minnesota House:
Linda Pfeilsticker is running for the Minnesota House in district 28B. Linda is focusing on three issues during her campaign; education, healthcare and economic development.
Linda believes our schools should be properly funded, so our students and teachers have the proper tools to learn and to teach. Linda believes health care should be affordable for our children and the elderly. She also believes that we need to bring money back to the family farm and small businesses that are the heart of Southeast Minnesota’s economy.
Linda Pfeilsticker will be a terrific representative for the people of 28B. Please show your support for Linda Pfeilsticker Aug. 7.
Out and about
Party in New Ulm, the Journal reports in Blast starts today. German music, food, wine and Schell's beer.
We love brats and Schell's, but we're headed in the opposite direction this morning, to the Economic Summit in Austin. Here's the schedule, and it's free. More later.
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