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February 28, 2006
Protectionism and Farming
Brandon F., writes.... "When my parents first moved to Gridley in 1982 they took a piece of bare land and planted kiwis. They were the new thing in the area and were very profitable. The only other country producing kiwis at the time was New Zeland and they on the opposite growing season than we were. Then Chile and got into the market and destroyed Gridley's kiwi industry. Prices were slashed by about 80% and the crops barely paid for the property taxes. Still my folks held out, they were not career farmers and so had other income. Now they're ripping out their orchard. It costs more to water and harvest the crop than it does to have the land lie barren. The insurance on a "farm" costs more than the profit from the crop could ever hope to make. Its a sad state and just an example of what "free trade" and a heartless insurance market has done to the American farmer."
Posted by Post Scripts at February 28, 2006 08:21 AM
Comments
I know some people might think we are talking about a guaranteed income for farmers, but that's not it at all, not even close!
We're only talking about doing something that would provide a level playing field for certain areas of our economy that we can't afford to turn over to other nations. Growing food is one of those key industries we must protect.
Nobody is even talking subsidies, just give our farmers a fair chance. We im;osed the taxes on them, we forced them to abide by certain restrictions and chemical use, so we ought not let that cost ruin them because farmers in other countries don't have the same restrictions. That's why their imports ought to have some tarrifs imposed to make it fair...that's all I'm saying.
Posted by: Jack Lee at February 28, 2006 08:31 AM