Americans spend only 8.7 percent of their income on food in the market. This is the lowest percentage in the world as calculated by the United Nations and the World Bank. The country with the next closest percentage is the United Kingdom at 12 percent. Tanzania tops the scale at 71 percent. Americans spend a little more for food through the taxes we pay to fund the federal farm program. With those additional taxes, the amount we pay is still about 9.2 percent of our income – the lowest in the world by far. Last year the Federal Farm Program paid Minnesota Farmers an average of $32.60/acre. For this, taxpayers not only made another small payment for their food, they also paid the farmer for important environmental protection benefits. For example, farmers enrolled in the Federal Farm Program must preserve wetlands and control soil erosion. If they have land that is easily eroded, they may be required to put in grassed waterways, buffer strips, terraces, use contour strips, plant more hay or pasture, use a no-till system or other management practices to adequately control soil erosion. In some cases land is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. In most of the industrialized world, taxpayers also make payments to farmers. For example, European Union taxpayers pay their farmers $320/acre – 10 times the amount paid to Minnesota farmers. In Japan it’s an unbelievable $4,000/acre. At this point in our history we can be very proud of and thankful for the system we have. As Thanksgiving approaches, I’d like to recognize and thank all who play a part in our most important food-fiber industry. Thank you for an abundance of food and fiber that’s high-quality, safe and offered to consumers at affordable prices.
