[hoosiermama]

ANy details of what is in the bill? Have only been able to find generalities.

[Terry Mross]

How did sugar growers get exempted?

I know some farmers who get thousands a year in subsidies. And their line of BS is always the same: “Without subsidies a loaf of bread would cost five dollars.” And none of the people I know have ever farmed a stalk wheat.

[sarasmom]

Call me cynical, but I predict the food I buy will instantly become much more expensive, the quality and safety will be downgraded, and it will now be an illegal act to grow my own tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, corn and beans on any property I might own or lease.

Is that about right?

[Dr. Sivana]

The Senate on Thursday completed a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill that cuts farm subsidies and land conservation spending by about $2 billion a year but largely protects sugar growers and some 46 million food stamp beneficiaries.

The sugar growers are always blamed for the food protectionism, but I have another theory.

While sugar growers are a significant force in Hawaii, Louisiana, and maybe FLorida, they are nothing, NOTHING compared to the corn lobby.

So, people figure that the sugar growers want tariffs on foreign sugar to keep their own prices stable or even high. Not so fast. Since the Earl Butz era, sugar has been replaced by various forms of corn syrup in everything from soft drinks to baked goods. Why do they use corn syrup? Several reasons, but mainly because IT'S CHEAPER.

And yet, the Coca-Cola in Mexico is made with real cane sugar, even though Mexico is not known to be unfriendly to corn based products. Conclusion? The price difference is created by the tariffs. I believe that the corn growers support tariffs on foreign corn, with the cooperation of the sugar growers, and in this era they, NOT the corn growers, are the stronger but quieter lobby for high sugar prices.

They sure aren't shy about wanting E15 as the standard fuel, so that no older car engine or small yard engine can be left intact.