Quote:
Originally Posted by eyecu2
A more detailed reason why the farmers are subsidized.
Tariffs are NOT the large part or reason...fyi
However, generally speaking, U.S. commodity producers might be subsidized for several potential reasons:
Food Security: Subsidies can help ensure a stable domestic food supply, reducing reliance on other countries for essential goods.
Stabilizing Income: Farming can be risky due to weather and market fluctuations. Subsidies help stabilize producer incomes and prevent widespread financial hardship in rural communities.
Global Competition: Many other countries subsidize their own producers, so U.S. subsidies can help American producers compete in the global market.
Environmental Goals: Some subsidies are tied to conservation efforts or specific farming practices that benefit the environment.
The majority of reasons that government subsidizes farming has to do with food security, and weather adversities.
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which contradicts HDG's "tariffs killing Indiana farmers" post since what you googled on it didn't mention tariffs. i got the same thing.
so if tariffs don't affect farmers because of subsidies what's the uproar about?
and there is that fact that several crops, subsidized by the Government, are intended to be export crops which are subject to import tariffs by other nations, most notably China. so tariffs are a factor in US farm subsidies for some important crops like soybeans. we export more than the US market has demand for.
China is the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans by a wide margin
, often purchasing over half of all U.S. exports. Between 2020 and 2024, China purchased an average of 29 million metric tons annually. Despite increasing competition from Brazilian imports, China continued to book massive amounts of U.S. soy in 2025, with sales approaching 10 million tons by early 2026.
Key details regarding U.S. soybean exports:
- Top Buyer: China frequently imports 60% or more of total U.S. soybean exports, far exceeding other nations.
- Other Major Buyers: Following China, other significant importers include Mexico, the European Union, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan.
- 2025-2026 Trend: China continued to be the top buyer in late 2025 and early 2026, with Sinograin and other buyers purchasing millions of tons to meet trade agreements.
tariffs are a factor in US farm subsidies. fair trade with major importers like China would reduce that need to subsidize farming which first started during the Great Depression. one of the few things FDR got right.
