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Bush tackles waste in farm subsidies

By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published February 15, 2007

You might think a tomato farmer in Manatee County has a lot in common with an Iowa corn farmer. When it comes to federal crop subsidies, however, they are worlds apart. To Uncle Sam, Florida's vegetable and fruit growers are the unwanted stepchildren to the favored sons who grow corn and soybeans in the Midwest.

But in a surprising reversal of decades-old agricultural policy, President Bush is proposing that the government begin to trim its wasteful farm subsidy program. In his proposed budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bush would reduce the amount going into commodity subsidies by $4.5-billion over the next decade. He would put more money into programs that actually help deserving farmers.

Key to Bush's reform is an income cap on those who receive subsidies. Any farmer with an income of more than $200,000 would not be eligible. So some 78,000 farmers who make more than four times the median income of an American family couldn't get a government welfare check, which is essentially what many agricultural subsidies are.

The other part of Bush's proposal would put money where it is most needed. Funding for conservation of agricultural land would be increased by $7.8-billion. Also, Bush would put more money into renewable energy research using promising new crops, make more direct payments to beginning farmers, strengthen disaster relief for farmers and promote overseas sales of American crops.

Charles Bronson, Florida's agriculture secretary, praised the new approach. "For the first time ever, there is a strong focus on fruit, vegetable and nursery crops, which now make up almost 55 percent of cash receipts in agriculture," Bronson said.

Bush also got some backing from an unlikely source - environmentalists. "It's definitely a wonderful step in the direction of reform," said Michelle Perez, senior analyst for the Environmental Working Group, which chronicles wasteful farm subsidy spending.

Whether the Bush plan will survive Congress is another matter. Farm-state lawmakers and presidential hopefuls who have to make a good showing in the corn belt have resisted subsidy cutbacks in the past. Bush deserves credit for presenting a bold beginning for agricultural reform, and we hope he is serious about pushing it through a reluctant Congress.

[Last modified February 14, 2007, 22:31:52]