Comments on: Why Can’t We All Be Friends? http://corncommentary.com/2010/01/08/why-cant-we-all-be-friends/ The blog about U.S. corn, corn products, and the family farmers behind it all. Wed, 23 May 2012 21:45:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dan Cooper http://corncommentary.com/2010/01/08/why-cant-we-all-be-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-3723 Dan Cooper Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:56:36 +0000 http://corncommentary.com/?p=3103#comment-3723 Good points about the ag subsidies Kathy. For example, if I raised cherries in Michigan or on Wisconsin's Door Peninsula, I wouldn't qualify for any subsidies. The entire ag subsidy program is out of whack and reflects more about politics and the power of the Big Ag lobbyists than it does reality -- or benefit to consumers. Why are organic farms -- as well as fruit and vegetable farms -- excluded from the same subsidy programs that benefit those farmers who raise commodity crops such as corn, soy, rice, and cotton? Good points about the ag subsidies Kathy. For example, if I raised cherries in Michigan or on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula, I wouldn’t qualify for any subsidies. The entire ag subsidy program is out of whack and reflects more about politics and the power of the Big Ag lobbyists than it does reality — or benefit to consumers.

Why are organic farms — as well as fruit and vegetable farms — excluded from the same subsidy programs that benefit those farmers who raise commodity crops such as corn, soy, rice, and cotton?

]]> By: Bob Parkhurst http://corncommentary.com/2010/01/08/why-cant-we-all-be-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-3676 Bob Parkhurst Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:35:01 +0000 http://corncommentary.com/?p=3103#comment-3676 <i>Crop and livestock producers should be friends, organic and traditional farmers should be friends, liberal and conservative farm groups should be friends, etc.</i> There is a difference that makes it difficult for the sides to see eye-to-eye. Industrial, monoculture farmers see themselves as in a business -- their chief goal is to make money and they will use politics, lobbying, the media, or whatever it takes to do that. The organic farmers do what they do because of belief and unbridled passion. They see it as a question of lifestyle, and while making money is necessary to stay in business, it's not their driving motivation. And then there are the actual family farmers who are caught somewhere in between. Crop and livestock producers should be friends, organic and traditional farmers should be friends, liberal and conservative farm groups should be friends, etc.

There is a difference that makes it difficult for the sides to see eye-to-eye. Industrial, monoculture farmers see themselves as in a business — their chief goal is to make money and they will use politics, lobbying, the media, or whatever it takes to do that.

The organic farmers do what they do because of belief and unbridled passion. They see it as a question of lifestyle, and while making money is necessary to stay in business, it’s not their driving motivation.

And then there are the actual family farmers who are caught somewhere in between.

]]> By: Kathy http://corncommentary.com/2010/01/08/why-cant-we-all-be-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-3669 Kathy Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:21:40 +0000 http://corncommentary.com/?p=3103#comment-3669 If organic farming is no different then why isn't the government subsidising them and making these healthier crops more readily available to the public? this country needs to increase organic farming and this will require help from the government. You shouldn't have to be wealthy to eat organic foods. You would certainly agree with that. If organic farming is no different then why isn’t the government subsidising them and making these healthier crops more readily available to the public? this country needs to increase organic farming and this will require help from the government. You shouldn’t have to be wealthy to eat organic foods. You would certainly agree with that.

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