Department of Agriculture

[JohnDB]

Believe it or not...
This department is in crap shape due to McConnell and Thune directly.
Not the Democrats this time.

The USDA is the governing body over America's agriculture and the chief financiers of all the groceries and farmed products in America...except forest products like lumber. But definitely things like cotton.
Definitely needing an overhaul. Because this department has been loaning money to Verizon Wireless while destroying small farmers in contrast to helping Corporate conglomerate Farms.

Farm Credit is legally supposed to have a board that oversees the loan programs for every farm. (Non-standard low interest Loan programs subsidized by tax dollars) The board members all are appointed to 6 year terms. And each is not allowed to serve more than twice. (Term limits)
Currently there is only one board member (unappointed) who is 6 years past his term limit. But is a McConnell stooge.

USDA inspections of our food processing plants has grown EXTREMELY LAX. Which in turn causes recalls of various food products from contamination of various bacteria and chemicals not allowed in already rather lax standards.

The USA has been a stalwart in food sanitation known globally. Every country in the world recognizes the USA's processed food as the gold standard in food production. They often ship their agricultural products to the USA to be processed and then shipped back home for consumption.

Time to clean the thing up!

 

[elektra]

Yes, democrats have destroyed so much in our country. Too much of our food now comes from foreign countries.

Another Democrat mess MAGA must fix

 

[Chillicothe]

"Another Democrat mess MAGA must fix"

????
OK, but how wll MAGA do that?
What parts are a "mess"?
And how would you know?
And what is your solution/
Be as specific as your serious study of the various issues allow you to be.

Thanks.


ps.....I farm so am always keenly interested in USDA 'reform' discussions. l have decades- long relationships....financial, operationally, advisory.....with the USDA, their programs and numerous staffers over the years.

So your view poster Elektra are of interest.

 

[Thunk]

This department is in crap shape due to McConnell and Thune directly.

I don't doubt that...but don't thunk that the democrats didn't have a hand in it by using the DOA as a weapon against farmers and land owners.

If the farmer didn't use the seed monsanto was selling...it was the DOA destroying that farmer within minutes!

Then you have all the crap about raw milk.

 

[JohnDB]

Yes, democrats have destroyed so much in our country. Too much of our food now comes from foreign countries.

Another Democrat mess MAGA must fix

Well...some local crops should be flooding the markets....
Apples and pears from the Appalachians and Rockies. Citrus fruits from California to Florida as well. Almonds, Pecans, and Walnuts should be hitting as well. Cotton is still in the fields but coming out as we speak. Same with Peanuts. I'm unsure about soybeans....corn has been out for a minute as well as spring wheat.

Tomatoes, grapes, peaches, and melons all were much earlier. Those now are coming g from all around the world.

Any produce from a field anywhere in the world to an USA table is 10 days....and 3 to 4 of those days were spent waiting to dock. That's the reality.

 

[rightwinger]

Yes, democrats have destroyed so much in our country. Too much of our food now comes from foreign countries.

Another Democrat mess MAGA must fix

Trump wants to slash employees

How will that help?

 

[JohnDB]

I don't doubt that...but don't thunk that the democrats didn't have a hand in it by using the DOA as a weapon against farmers and land owners.

If the farmer didn't use the seed monsanto was selling...it was the DOA destroying that farmer within minutes!

Then you have all the crap about raw milk.

Ok...the Democrats and Republicans BOTH have had a hand in destroying the USDA.
I wish it weren't so....but if the Blond Bimbo gets appointed to the role....it will be more in favor of corporate farming instead of small farmers. (Relatively speaking....250 cattle is considered small farming)

 

[elektra]

Trump wants to slash employees

How will that help?

It will save us money. We don't need to import food that we can grow here. That means less USDA employees living overseas inspecting foreign countries

 

[Thunk]

it will be more in favor of corporate farming instead of small farmers.

I don't like that any more than you do. But it's more cost efficient which lowers the price of food which we all want.

No different that the mom & pop hardware stores going bye bye with the rise of home depots & Menards.

Or the small grocery stores Vs. cub & walmart.

That's just a part of life & it sucks...but that I can't blame on dems or repubs.

 

[elektra]

????
OK, but how wll MAGA do that?
What parts are a "mess"?
And how would you know?

A better question is why are you challenging how I would know? A civil discussion would start with you leaving out your incredulous remarks.

Your question is what? How would I know anything about the food I buy?

 

[struth]

Believe it or not...
This department is in crap shape due to McConnell and Thune directly.
Not the Democrats this time.

The USDA is the governing body over America's agriculture and the chief financiers of all the groceries and farmed products in America...except forest products like lumber. But definitely things like cotton.
Definitely needing an overhaul. Because this department has been loaning money to Verizon Wireless while destroying small farmers in contrast to helping Corporate conglomerate Farms.

Farm Credit is legally supposed to have a board that oversees the loan programs for every farm. (Non-standard low interest Loan programs subsidized by tax dollars) The board members all are appointed to 6 year terms. And each is not allowed to serve more than twice. (Term limits)
Currently there is only one board member (unappointed) who is 6 years past his term limit. But is a McConnell stooge.

USDA inspections of our food processing plants has grown EXTREMELY LAX. Which in turn causes recalls of various food products from contamination of various bacteria and chemicals not allowed in already rather lax standards.

The USA has been a stalwart in food sanitation known globally. Every country in the world recognizes the USA's processed food as the gold standard in food production. They often ship their agricultural products to the USA to be processed and then shipped back home for consumption.

Time to clean the thing up!

Um the USDA has been run for the past four years by Xiden and harris..I agree it’s crap

Farm Credit is a private bank…it’s not part of the USDA

 

[struth]

Trump wants to slash employees

How will that help?

By getting rid of the folks that have made it crap

 

[Thinker101]

Trump wants to slash employees

How will that help?

Wait, have you ever had a real job?

 

[JohnDB]

I don't like that any more than you do. But it's more cost efficient which lowers the price of food which we all want.

No different that the mom & pop hardware stores going bye bye with the rise of home depots & Menards.

Or the small grocery stores Vs. cub & walmart.

That's just a part of life & it sucks...but that I can't blame on dems or repubs.

Actually you can.

Most of the sandwich bread your PB&J is made from is the MOST federally subsidized flour made in America. (Made inexpensive by federal tax dollars. But nobody can purchase it or can anyone plant it that is not a corporate, conglomerate owned farm. Only Conglomerately owned bakeries have access to this flour.

Getting the picture yet?

The same can be said for Walmart and Safeway/Albertsons/Kroger grocery store food chains.

Meaning where you buy groceries is also controlled and subsidized for maximum corporate profits...not customer cost savings.

Currently your egg and butter prices are high because of the deliberate bankrupting of small farms which are then sold to China.

 

[struth]

Actually you can.

Most of the sandwich bread your PB&J is made from is the MOST federally subsidized flour made in America. (Made inexpensive by federal tax dollars. But nobody can purchase it or can anyone plant it that is not a corporate, conglomerate owned farm. Only Conglomerately owned bakeries have access to this flour.

Getting the picture yet?

The same can be said for Walmart and Safeway/Albertsons/Kroger grocery store food chains.

Meaning where you buy groceries is also controlled and subsidized for maximum corporate profits...not customer cost savings.

Currently your egg and butter prices are high because of the deliberate bankrupting of small farms which are then sold to China.

How do small farms keep grocery prices low?

 

[BluesLegend]

How do small farms keep grocery prices low?

Well in Dem run states the Dems REQUIRE small farms to install umpteen hundred thousand dollar animal waste systems...even if you only have 1 cow. Oh wait... Shutting down small farms naturally.

 

[JohnDB]

How do small farms keep grocery prices low?

Because where they are still large farms by comparison of our gardens at home...they still utilize 30-100 acres with which they grow or raise everything from poultry to Peanuts. These "small" amounts and type of farming done are usually chosen for what the land will produce in the most economically feasible process possible. Hand harvesting or planting instead of massive pieces of equipment doing it. You still need tractors and implements but they are less expensive than what a 15,000 acre farm would need. IOW you wouldn't need also a fuel cart to fuel the tractors out in the field and you might not need a GPS guided tractor for maximum planting, spraying, feeding of the crops.

But these "small" amounts get market prices and help reduce the ultimate market price of groceries by contributing to the volume of products produced.

Planning for small farms is much more responsive to market needs than large farms. A big farm has the next 4 years already planned, supplies ordered, and contracted. A small farm might not and can plant accordingly....or make contracts accordingly. Most likely have this spring's crops already in motion and paid for. Maybe. But some are still waiting.

Cotton is low prices this year but maybe someone wants to plant rye....they will get good prices and if their weather and land supports rye....they will have a high profit crop. But otherwise they barely break even. (Higher risk/reward)

 

[Winco]

Yes, democrats have destroyed so much in our country. Too much of our food now comes from foreign countries.

Another Democrat mess MAGA must fix

Trump will do NOTHING to solve this MESS you describe.
But low and behold, within a year, with absolutely ZERO changes, the right will claim a trump victory on manufactured FAKE NEWS.

Book it.

 

[JohnDB]

Trump will do NOTHING to solve this MESS you describe.
But low and behold, within a year, with absolutely ZERO changes, the right will claim a trump victory on manufactured FAKE NEWS.

Book it.

Oh I'll be crying about it LONG before then if it doesn't.

The butchering of downed cattle was the last scandal that caused the USDA to clean up their act. It hasn't been that strict since.

But the baby Formula scandal of Biden's caused an "all stop" of cracking down on conglomerate food processors.

 

[elektra]

Trump will do NOTHING to solve this MESS you describe.
But low and behold, within a year, with absolutely ZERO changes, the right will claim a trump victory on manufactured FAKE NEWS.

Book it.

Well, your last two positions were wrong. You supported Biden and Kamala.

It is safe to say that your judgement and common sense are piss poor, this will be another time you are wrong.

No worries though, even though you supported destroying America MAGA will fix everything and make your life better.