On Wednesday, the Marshall Independent published Ag panelists take issue with perception farmers get large amounts of money from Farm Bill, a news article by columnist Jim Muchlinski. He reports:
A full range of farm issues was discussed Tuesday at the Lyon County Fairgrounds by four of the area’s farm leaders.
A crowd of about 70 people attended the 2023 State of Agriculture forum sponsored by the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce.
Panelists included Boerboom Ag Resources Chief Executive Officer Mike Boerboom, Lynd area fourth generation farmer Mark Fischer, Cottonwood area farm wife and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Carolyn Olson, and Lake Benton area farmer and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Bob Worth.
The largest share of time at the hour-long forum was spent on the upcoming federal Farm Bill. It is currently under development in Congress. The goal is to finalize Farm Bill work by Oct. 1.
Panelists took issue with the idea that the Farm Bill involves a massive amount of money given to farmers, noting the 83% of Farm Bill funds go toward nutrition assistance. . . .
There's certainly truth in that.
So where do folks get the idea that a massive amount of money is given to farmers?
We turned to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Farm Subsidy Datebase to see whether any of the panelists received money from the federal government.
Greg Boerboom? Boerboom Ag Resources LLC received payments totaling $2,252,297 from 1995 through 2021.
Other recipients at the same address? We found this in the database:
Greg And Paula Boerboom Fam Lim P - $63,650
Greg Boerboom - $197,966
Lynd area fourth generation farmer Mark Fischer?
While there are a couple of Fischers farming in the Lynd area listed in the database, there's no connection with a "Mark Fischer." Other Mark Fischers farm in other counties.
Cottonwood area farm wife and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Carolyn Olson, who identifies as an organic farmer in the article? Carolyn Olson received a mere $28,344 in farm subsidies directly from USDA--all of which were conservation subsidies.
Other recipients at the same address? From the database:
Jonathan K Olson - $839,765
Anita J Jackson - $2,526
Kenneth D Olson - $232,196
Westacre Organics Llp - $4,150
Kenneth D Olson Estate - $2,388
A 2018 article in the Minneota Mascot notes "Olson and her husband Jonathon farm near Cottonwood." She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Utilization Research institute (AURI), which notes:
Carolyn Olson raises organic corn, soybeans, small grains and alfalfa with her husband on a 1,100 acre farm near Cottonwood, Minnesota. They also finish approximately 14,000 conventional hogs annually.
The AURI website also states in a FAQ, "Where does AURI get its funding?:"
While we are an independent nonprofit corporation, AURI is funded, in part by the Minnesota Legislature. In addition, AURI receives funding from project fees and charitable gifts made by individuals and companies.
She is also part of CommonGround, a women-speak-for-ag group that describes its funding in these terms:
CommonGround was developed by farmers through two national checkoff programs, the National Corn Growers Association and the United Soybean Board.
The program is also supported, in part, by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.
Some folks might call that cropaganda, but what do they know? For those who don't know much about the check-off programs, Bluestem recommends this Wikipedia entry.
Lake Benton area farmer and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President Bob Worth? According to the EWG farm subsidy database, Robert W Worth received payments totaling $865,408 from 1995 through 2021. Another recipient at the same address?
Jon William Worth - $680,794.
Other than that, Bluestem has no idea why folks think farmers get large amounts of money from farm bills.
Is this money dwarved by the nutrition funding in the bill? Certainly, but it's many, many times the federal subsidies or Soros checks for poor country bloggers.
Moreover, after dismissing their place at the trough, the panelists complain about other items. For instance:
Panelists also urged caution with electric car mandates. They noted that corn-based ethanol and soybean biodiesel both have many years of research to back them up, and that they can remain vital parts of a renewable fuel strategy.
That assertion has its critics. Witness Michael Grunwald's June 6 column from the New York Times' op-ed pages, The Climate Solution That’s Horrible for the Climate.
But how can anyone argue with these poor dirt farmers?
Photo: Mike Boerboom makes a point Tuesday during the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce 2023 State of Agriculture event. Boerboom was one of four panelists who discussed a variety of farm issues in front of a crowd of 70 people. Photo by Jim Muchlinski/ Marshall Independent.
Related posts:
- Commentary from MinnPost: Can the state control nitrates in Minnesota waters?
- We agree: It's time to move on from ethanol
- MN creates office to support emerging farmers
- USDA Farm Services Administration email: if you die, your heirs may still get your farm subsidies
- WAPO on farm income: MFP brought big help, but big farms benefited more than small ones
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