[MNDude]

I thought they got lots of subsidies.

[LTC.Ret]

Only the really big corporate farms -— small family farms are small independent businesses that have to make it on their own.

[ozzymandus]

You thought wrong. Read up.

[Eisenhower Republican]

"I thought they got lots of subsidies."

They do. From what I understand though, it's alot easier for corporate operations to take advantage of subsidies through regulatory capture. They sell at the same price as the corporate farms, so they end up taking it in the shorts. A straight-up tax break doesn't require them to hire a herd of lawyers.

[COBOL2Java]

I thought they got lots of subsidies.

Bill: "Sssh! MMDude thinks all farmers get lots' of subsidies!"

Hill: "Let him think the little family-owned farmers get 'em, and not just the big 'pay to play' farm corporations! We like those donations, don't we, Bill?" [giggle]

[Hostage]

For more than half of the history of the Republic farmers and ranchers paid no income tax because there wasn’t one. So subsidies is just a way of preserving the food chain.

Their tax rate shouldn’t be 15%.

For ACTIVE WORKING FARMERS AND RANCHERS, their tax rate should be 0%.

For PASSIVE NON-WORKING FARMERS AND RANCHERS, their tax rate should be the maximum rate plus a surcharge for leeching.

[reaganaut]

Actually not. Most of the ‘subsidies’ are insurance options (you pay for). The profit margin of farming is about 3 to 5 percent. Say for an average farm, you have an outlay of 250k per quarter of land. Bad crop year (too much rain, not enough, etc) and you are out the money. Most farms in my area are 12 quarters. Add the equipment anywhere from 150k to 500k for a tractor or combine, bins, storage, elevator fees. You do the math.

This is a fantastic idea since over half of family farms must be sold to cover estate taxes.

[Uncle Miltie]

“Farming the mailbox.”