On Fri, 20 Dec 2002 06:49:11 -0000, "Hamish Macbeth"
wrote:

"Torsten Brinch"

--wrote in message ...
On Thu, 19 Dec 2002 18:28:40 +0000 (GMT),
One can't argue against all subsidy, it is inherent that each and
every specific case of subsidy might arguably have demonstrable
benefits to society. It is important to realise, however, that
it is no longer considered beneficial to society to subsidise farm
production.


I am against subidiese, they make it nxt to impossible to work in a sensible
manner, producers being controlled by
subsidiese and rules rather than inherent logic.

I know it may be a difficult mental exercise, but farmers should
realise that the 'subsidy of farm production' aspect of payments
is a thing of the past. Current payments is better seen as a
nuisance, a thorn in the societal body, which for historical reasons
cannot be, or for political reasons are not desired to be cut away
just overnight.

However farming does seem to be bogged down in a world of direct subsidiese
and hidden buggerations
(tax allowances fuel anomolies etc) outside the control of any one nation.

It may look that way -- that it is bogged down in it -- but really
that is not the case. You will experience as farm producers for the
foreseeable future only that subsidy is taken away from you. That goes
for production-related as well as for direct subsidies.

And as Stubbsy in his usual manner has pointed out in a current post,
people are not educated to appretiate
fresh food which would give a premium to locally produced product.

I am reading this from sci.agriculture, so I can't see if there is
more to Stubbsy's viewpoint than what you present here. The viewpoint
seems to be that society should try to guide the purchases made by
certain uneducated consumers, by way of subsidy of farm production.
If that is the viewpoint, I consider it without merit.

Gross value added in the food and drink
production system, UK 2000, £ billions

18.2 Imports
6.5 Farmers and primary producers (incl. direct subsidy 2.5)
19.4 Food and drink manufacturing
5.7 Wholesalers
15.3 Non-residential caterers
16.6 Retailers
-8.5 Exports
N/A Merchants and distribution
-------------------------------
127 Consumer expenditure