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Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, warning of the growing encroachment of corporations in food production, called Tuesday for increased funding for conservation programs and revamping the targeting of farm subsidies.
As control by agribusiness has grown, Kerry said, family farmers have been squeezed, with a 38 percent decline in the number of hog producers.
"When you consider that two-thirds of our agriculture support payments go to the largest 10 percent of firms, it's no surprise," the Massachusetts senator said.
Visiting a family farm in northern Iowa, Kerry said four giant companies control 81 percent of the nation's beef production. He said he would restructure farm subsidies to give family operations a better chance at competing for assistance.
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In addition, Kerry said he would bolster funding for struggling soil conservation programs, such as the Conservation Security Program pushed by Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. It provides funding and technical assistance for farmers who engage in soil conservation efforts, but Kerry warned it's badly underfunded. Applications for assistance worth $104 million are pending in Iowa alone, he said.
"As president, I will stand up for family farmers and good conservation practices," he said. "It rewards family farmers for being strong environmental stewards, it helps our rural communities thrive and it makes sure our family farms are a source of opportunity and hope for the next generation."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/12/30/politics1039EST0521.DTL |
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