iB::Topic::Welfare Checks Keep Coming

Here are some facts/ quotes from FarmPolicyFacts.org:

The commodity title of the current farm bill has saved taxpayers $25 billion.

98% of U.S. farms are run by families-less than 2% are corporate farms.

Family farms produce 86% of America's food and fiber.

"Our farmers deserve praise, not condemnation; and their efficiency should be cause for gratitude, not something for which they are penalized" - President John F. Kennedy.

There are more than 2 million farms in America.

America has the cheapest, safest, most abundant food supply in the world.

U.S. consumers spend just 10% of their income on food-the lowest percentage in the world.

Pharmaceuticals...paint...fuel...cosmetics...crayons. These are just some of the everyday products made possible by U.S. farms.

Today's farmer provides food and fiber for 144 people-up from just 19 people in 1940.

For every dollar Americans spend on food, farmers only get 20 cents.

The average U.S. farm is 441 acres-up from 155 in 1935.

There are 6.5 billion people on the planet, and the world's population will reach 8 billion by 2025. Good thing U.S. farmers continue to increase their efficiency.

"Cultivators are the most valuable citizens…they are tied to their country" - President Thomas Jefferson.

There were 13.4% more women farmers in 2002 than in 1997, according to the 2002 Ag Census.

Agriculture employs 20% of the U.S. workforce, or about 21 million people.

Agriculture accounts for roughly 20% of the nations GDP, contributing $3.5 trillion a year to the U.S. economy.

Agricultural land provides habitat for 75% of the nation's wildlife.

X-ray film…adhesives...ink...toothpaste. These are just some of the everyday products made possible by U.S. farms.

About 40% of the country is farmland-that's an area the size of nine Californias.

The current farm bill isn't just about farmers, food and clothing-it also provides nearly $40 billion for environmental conservation.

Japanese grocery shoppers spend 26% of their incomes on food- Americans only spend 10%, thanks to farm policy.

The market value of U.S. agriculture products in 2002 was $200 billion, or about $94,000 per farm.

Under the current farm bill, 2007 federal farm support is predicted to decline $3.9 billion since last year.

"In no other country do so few people produce so much food, to feed so many, at such reasonable prices" - President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

"Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you're a thousand miles from the corn field" - President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Compared to other major agricultural producers around the globe, the U.S. ranks near the bottom of the subsidization and tariff scale.

Nearly 6% of farm households have had a negative household income over the past 10 years.

Agriculture is America's number one export.

"It will not be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance" - President George Washington.

Grocery shoppers from India spend 51% of their incomes on food-Americans only spend 10%, thanks to farm policy.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing depends on farmers to produce paper currency-75% of every bill is made of cotton.