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Ranchers.net

This is always good for an argument. I see that some of you were tempted to get into it on Ranch Talk, but this seems like the best place to have it. That way nobody will feel like they can't say exactly what's on their mind.

Many US ranchers don't feel like they receive any subsidies. They don't like that term, I guess. That's exactly what many of the government FSA programs are, though. In my opinion, they're subsidies. It's sure not the same as welfare, but many of these programs involve direct payments either for drought disaster, conservation, etc.

I've never taken any, but I don't pass judgment on those that do. A lot of us run cattle on places that have benefitted from government money under previous owners. So most of us have benefitted, even if only indirectly. With the rising cost of inputs these days, I'll have to admit that I've sure been thinking about some of that fencing money or money for liming or other pasture improvements.

I don't know much about the CRP payments because there's not much of that in my area. I'll admit that those seem to be bordering on getting something for nothing. Any of you are welcome to tell me where I'm wrong on that.

I guess the dairy price supports are the ones that piss me off more than anything. We encourage dairy producers to overproduce by adding more and more cows. Then government or industry groups will wake up and come up with a plan to cut down on production---by killing cows. All of this cow slaughter brings the inevitable consequence of lowering prices for the rest of us.

I vote "Yes" by the way.
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