U.S. Rep. Lynn Martin said, ”When I die I want to be reincarnated as a federal program-they live on forever.” That statement certainly fits farm programs. Recently the House authorized another five years of farm support at a cost of at least $54 billion to the taxpayers.
Although saving the small family farmer is the rationale for farm programs, such farmers are not the primary beneficiaries. Forty-three percent of farm payments go to farm operations with an average net income of $96,000 per year and an average net worth of $804,000.
The Coalition for Common Sense Agriculture Policies, headed by U.S. Rep. Dick Armey of Texas offered an amendment barring individuals with adjusted net incomes of $100,000 or more from receiving farm payments. It was defeated on the House floor. In ”The Farm Fiasco,” James Bovard stated: ”With the $260 billion the government and consumers have spent on farm subsidies since 1980, Uncle Sam could have bought every farm, barn and tractor in 33 states.”
