ouch! anyone else's wallet in pain?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

Rob, I really respect your opinion on most all subjects, and considering you actually live in the state, you have a better understanding of the situation than most. I understand the point you're making, but because of my personal and family attachments to agriculture, I can't agree with you 100%. I hate the fact that the vast majority of the subsidies are going to companies like ADM and Cargill, but even small farmers are benefiting from the recent prices.

The real issue, in my mind, is that it is essentially impossible under the current agriculture system to separate the true "family farmer" from ADM/Cargill and others on the "take" (as it were), leading to a pretty rough system in general - and that's what I'm speaking on, the overall system, since I have no real qualms with the concept of aid for farmers (although that may change once consumption makes market prices high enough to sustain farming as profession on its own).

My first step would be to lower the earnings cap - I believe it's currently set at $1.5 million, which seems insane, but I'd guess you have a much better idea than myself and can correct me if I'm missing some key piece of this.

Next, crop insurance fraud needs to be addressed, as it is somewhere between excessive and rampant, depending on who you believe.

Still, the comparison with Big Oil is really kind of hilarious, especially using the ADM-type situations.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

My first step would be to lower the earnings cap - I believe it's currently set at $1.5 million, which seems insane, but I'd guess you have a much better idea than myself and can correct me if I'm missing some key piece of this.

From what I'm reading in the new farm bill, the caps have been lowered to $500,000 for non-farm income and $750,000 for farm income. source. But I don't know if there are other factors that come into play with those figures.

Crop insurance is going to be a *huge* issue after this summer. Again, from what I'm reading in the new farm bill, there seems to be an improvement in this area as well from previous bills. I will admit I'm not familiar with the specifics of the previous bills. I'm just now starting to educate myself in these areas as the husband and I would eventually like to take over our respective family farms if possible.