Farmers are biggest resource

(The following letter is being sent to senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and Rep. David Dreier; and was cc’d to the Claremont COURIER.)

Dear Editor:

If we starve the farmers, they stop farming. Without farmers, we all starve. However, if we feed the biggest hogs at the trough (huge landowners who reap outlandish USDA subsidies and then don’t farm the land), we are destroying the backbone of U S agriculture, the small family farm as well as larger genuine agricultural operations. Without these our food security is compromised. Farm state Senators and Representatives powerfully control key committees and continue to shovel truckloads of our tax dollars to these wealthy non-farming landowners. This is irrational and immoral—and bi-partisan!

Please support a long overdue reform of the farm bill so it supports the growing of food, not estates. This means an income cap of $250,000 for those receiving subsidies.  Biofuels from corn and soy should not be subsidized at all. Biofuels are proving to be a key component of a world food emergency that is already causing immense suffering. Food emergencies inevitably lead to territorial wars and global instability.

Please show the courage and leadership to do the right thing on this complex but crucial issue.

Pete Sabey and Judy ONeill
Claremont