Lautenberg wants more farm subsidies

Senator Frank Lautenberg wants more farm aid for specialty farmers in New Jersey. The gist of the issue is apparently large corporate farms:

Lautenberg had sought to more fairly distribute some $280 billion in farm aid. Corn, soybean and other commercial crop growers receive the lion's share of aid. Specialty farmers, those who grow fruits, vegetables and organic products like those who dominate the agriculture industry in New Jersey, receive peanuts.

An article in the Courier Post discussed the unfairness of the distribution of farm subsidies to various states. The Senator failed as his colleagues in the larger farming states didn't agree. But maybe Lautenberg is missing the real point.

It isn't about how the money gets distributed. The big question is why do we continue to funnel billions of dollars in subsidies to manipulate the farming industry. For example, if New Jersey organic farmers have found a business niche that the markets wants, why do they need subsidies? I live very close to some extremely successful farms and they are doing very well farming a product people want to buy.

As to the subsidies, this week the NY Post listed several super wealthy New Yorkers who have been receiving farm subsidy money. David Letterman, David Rockefeller Sr and Leonard Lauder are just a few of the needy farmers mentioned.

This program needs to be gutted not redistributed.

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