Free The Animal

Amerika, Amerika...

All went well until early July. That’s when the two landowners discovered that there was a problem with the local office of the Farm Service Administration, the Agriculture Department branch that runs the commodity farm program, and it was going to be expensive to fix.

The commodity farm program effectively forbids farmers who usually grow corn or the other four federally subsidized commodity crops (soybeans, rice, wheat and cotton) from trying fruit and vegetables. Because my watermelons and tomatoes had been planted on “corn base” acres, the Farm Service said, my landlords were out of compliance with the commodity program.

I’ve discovered that typically, a farmer who grows the forbidden fruits and vegetables on corn acreage not only has to give up his subsidy for the year on that acreage, he is also penalized the market value of the illicit crop, and runs the risk that those acres will be permanently ineligible for any subsidies in the future. (The penalties apply only to fruits and vegetables — if the farmer decides to grow another commodity crop, or even nothing at all, there’s no problem.)

Honestly? I feel like slapping the face of the very next person I ever hear singing that song. Other than that, at least I've got the Technorati Tag spot on, below.

Fools. But don't worry...I hear there's an election coming up any time now.

Later: Oh, Jeesus, there's even more. Ha; I can't help but laugh at you ethanol fools and those of you who fall for it. Fools.

(via Regina Wilshire)

You might also like

1. My Beautiful Wife Progresses
2. The Paleo Eating “Disorder” – Sign Me Up
3. My Review of Food, Inc.
4. Cholesterol Con: Call for Help
5. HED: High Everything Diet (If eating garbage is your problem, just eat more of it)

Please spread the word