More federal subsidies for the already heavily subsidized farm/ranch conglomerates.

I understand the sense of buying now while there is a drought sale of livestock that there is no feed for, so it's cheaper. The problem will be the inevitable rise in prices that is to come. It is probably unavoidable, but it sucks none the less.

Are you being sarcastic? This Government's Farm Bill is a disaster. Subsidies for corn and soy? These crops have become commodities. That means cash crops. This Country doesn't grow enough fruits and vegetables to sustain the population anymore. All politicians are jokes. Total frauds.

Well I think it's better to do something then do nothing like the REPUBLICANS, what are they waiting for, Oh I forgot they are all about let's wait and see ... Maybe if they did not have that attitude the country would be in better shape. Oh but then Obama would look good.

Thanks for what. If food is in shorter than normal supply no one would be buying it ? All this move will do is cost the American consumer on two fronts. First of all more tax dollars spent needlessly and two higher prices at the store becuase the government has snatched up some of the food supply.

Most likely this is really nothing different except for an attempt to get much needed votes. These purchases were most likely done all the time Obama is just trying to make it seem like "he" is doing something special. Give me a break.

4 years more for Mr President, Not because,Im black,yellow,brown or white, hatred racist B.S nor because,I'm a Farmer,a Small business owner,a Tax Payers or just supporting any Political B.S. But because Im Moderate Midde-Class American.

The government will be buying all of this meat at reduced prices due to the drought. They can not do this during good times. What about the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables? Not enough corn to serve the school children this year so feed them pig and beef.

This is one of the craziest policies I have heard of so far.

So the government buys up the food making it more scarce for the stores which then raises prices. Meanwhile to get the cheaper "government food" you have to jump through bureaucratic hoops. The middle class, who don't qualify for federal aid, will then be paying higher prices at the store and then higher taxes to pay for the program. Good going Communist-in-Chief.

@Count, you are right on target. If something makes no reasonable sense then it is a great idea for Dems. to buy votes.

Hey no problem Obama announced; My fellow friends and Americans this administration intends to buy up all your woes and I have authorize a nice fat check from the Bank of Beijing to cover it all….thanks for your votes—Obama 2012.

All the sucker is doing is buying votes with OUR MONEY.

Since the farmers don't and won't vote for Obama; who's vote is he buying?

Hummmmmmm .. maybe someone should have checked food prices in the stores ... at the inflated prices .... and thought about how the average American can barely afford to eat decently ..... without running the price up farther

Hey Barry....how bout slashing the Federal Gasoline Tax ....Making it cheaper to farm and transport these farm goods to market and for the working people to save a few million bucks at the pump and buy more pork, lamb, chicken and catfish....instead of taking from the makers and giving to the takers...

Tell me again what The Government does to think they are entitled to 18 1/2 cents for every gallon sold.....Obviously it's not going to "infrastructure" maintainance....cause why else would we need another "stimulus" to repair the roads and bridges ?????

Governments cannot give anything to anyone unless they first take it from someone else..

Governments produce nothing but debt..

usdeptclock.org

It's the wrong time to argue against crop insurance and farm subsidies. With this drought, farmers are suffering, soon it will hit all of us and our wallet. Subsidies now can help farmers, and alleviate their pains, and in the end, lower prices for groceries, and other related items whose prices will go up with food.

During a visit to Iowa, a political swing state that the Democrat hopes to win in the Nov. 6 election, Obama will press Congress to pass a farm bill with short-term relief measures for the ranchers and farmers hurt by the drought.

The president will also direct the Department of Defense to "encourage" its vendors to speed up purchases of lamb, pork and beef and freeze it for later use.

OBAMA WILL DO ANYTHING (INCLUDING USING TAXPAYER MONEY) TO BUY VOTES!

Let's see subsidize an already over subsidized welfare group, which receive our tax $$ to grow corn and other crops for worthless ethanol fuel (incentive cash included), while taking food from the tables of millions. This is the same industry that the government also pays incentives not to grow certain crops.

What about the drought on the American trucking business's? They are the ones that need more help than the farmers. The artificial shortages of oil and fuel (import oil & all the refining etc.) has driven the cost of hauling off the charts. Even without the drought the cost of everything has skyrocketed due to the cost of getting thing to market. If the government wanted help the people, it would ease some of the BS.

$170million just in time for all of Obama fund raising dinners, I mean food banks.

I am all for Agriculture but it has become a racket. Most of the farm subsidies are for the rich large farmers and ranchers not the small people. There are very few small farmers and ranchers in this country anymore they are big conglomerates (many foreign owned), which pay little to no taxes by the way.

I really don't want to get started on this subject, there is not enough room on this blog to tell how the Dept of Ag & Farm welfare is ripping this country off. I will say this, most people don't have a clue because the majority live in big cities where food, milk and produce magically appear in the grocery stores.

Why do you not understand . Just like what Francle said in comment 1.3
Obama , Wall Street , and the Bankers have turned everything into commodities .
You take commodities off the market and the price sky rockets .
The fat cats only get richer and richer .
Soon he'll have control of all the food , and he'll have control of America .
Go ahead and Vote for your Communist-in-Chief .

Just like Ma tought him, guvment is the answer.

He's not just trying to buy the farmers votes, but definitely buying the farmers legal "employees" votes that I am sure are in favor of the ID to vote.

Another way to take from the middle class and give to the non working class, shouldn't we have a grain reserve to fall back on? we used to, a good well working wheat ranch would hold a crop or more in reserve to cover bad times, the government used to reserve 7 years worth of seed to provide security for this type of disaster because we know its inevitable, so what is up with our reserves? did someone give it away? or perhaps sell it? it doesn't look as though it was being maintained. at one time back when we ran the country in a capitalist Democracy/ Republic fashion we had all these basses covered, we were prepared and could have feed those animals, and maintained prices and herds now they want to slaughter and freeze them to give to the poor that are already getting food stamps ( how long can you freeze a pork chop?) and it will take years to recover, what I want to know is what went wrong, why, and who is responsible for the derailment of our agricultural system. it seams that everywhere I look what used to be lush Farm Land is now houses and shopping malls, the Farmers were taxed out, this is not a fix its not even a band aid, its a little piece of tissue stuck on a gash to reduce the bleeding. we should have been prepared. we were in the past. We desperately need a president with some business savvy. food is our no#1 export I guess we will be losing there as well.

with grain supply at a all time low, meat prices rising due to feed lot grain purchases; the government gets into the market to do WHAT, switch off the ethanol subsidy's, , and grow food for eating not driving. this is a crazy program.

Farmers are controlled by subsidies in the same way welfare recipients are conditioned not to compete. Just take the money right out of the individual's mouth.

As someone who has connections to Ranchers and Farmers this was a big topic the last couple of months. They see big money coming thier way, your tax dollars. Most of them are conservative so it won't buy their vote but they don't mind the handout.

RON-1137649

Why do you not understand . Just like what Francle said in comment 1.3
Obama , Wall Street , and the Bankers have turned everything into commodities .

Agricultural products have been on the commodities market for many, many years. I don't want to bust your bubble but bankers and insurance companies put these items on the market to help farmers and rancher hedge against the future in order to insure some profit. Long story but to make it short, the gamblers were ones that destroyed the futures market. Anything on wall street you can buy or sell no matter if you are in that business or not. You don't have to be in the oil business to buy & sell oil. Remember the movie with Eddie Murphy & Dan Akroyd and the orange futures.

I understand the need to help people. I also understand that we all need help sometimes. But, I don’t think this kind of help is appropriate or healthy, for any of us. Droughts, flooding, pests, etc. have been around since time began. Long before big government came into being and started holding everyone’s hands, they had to find a solution. All government has done over the years is make everyone lazy and dependant – including farmers.

Part of what sets the human race apart from other species is the ability to adapt to challenging circumstances and find solutions. Americans used to be particularly good at that.

go-n-out-of-biz Please relay the message. I recognize their character flaw, The ability to enjoy without earning it.

So... full disclosure please.

How many of these farmers are publicly announced Tea Party members (ultra-conservative), how many hate liberal socialism and want smaller government (less spending), and how many decry government regulation and demand to keep their hands off.

Hypocrisy reigns supreme. Everyone wants government out until it impacts their business or life.

Proof the farmers did not build their businesses. Those of us who have feel the pain.

Yep, Mr. Obama to the rescue. Wait a minute, he sure helps out OTHER countries to "subsidize their cost of living" and provide FOOD "in response to rising commodity prices".

MAY 2011: President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that he will send “hundreds of millions” of dollars in economic aid to Jordan, coinciding with the visit of King Abdullah II.

“All of this will help to stabilize the cost of living and day-to-day situation of Jordanians and will provide a foundation so that these economic reforms can move forward and long-term development can take place,” Obama said in the Oval Office after talking with Abdullah.

The administration is also pledging 50,000 metric tons of wheat to Jordan in response to rising commodity prices around the world.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0511/wheat_and_the_cash_dc00023e-76e6-4e3e-9480-5dc2c43b6b75.html

This was in 2011. Talk about Mr. Obama's Liberal redistribution of WEALTH and FOOD. There is no end to his madness.

Meanwhile, screw Main Street America. Break out your wallets at your local supermarket.

Time for Mr. Obama is be shown the EXIT door to the White House.

Thanks, Mr. President.

4 more years - Farmers For Obama.

I'll bet these farmers didn't vote for Obama because most go with the "values" vote - anti-abortion, guns, and anti-gay marriage...

... and even if this did sway their vote, farmers are a exceedingly small portion of the country....

.... unless these payments are going to corporate farms ... and then you have to wonder about all this corporate welfare bailing out more and more companies that only play by rules when it's in their favor....

.... and then there are the yuckleheads in here who don't seem to make the connection between a collapse of our food production industry and food availability and prices.

This is a remarkably asinine move by Obama. Meat is already much higher than I've ever seen it before. This move will drive prices even higher. What a DUMB FING $HITHEAD!! The best part is as pointed out above, I/we taxpayers get to pay for it twice. This action exemplifies how Obama hasn't a clue to what he's doing. And to think that roughly 50% of the people in this country think this assclown is doing a good job is frightening to say the least.

1. Hi Kumar-889209, You don't know what you are talking about and you remind me of those two conservative critics, Ramesh Ponnuru and Dinesh De Souza.

Now for others who have criticized President Obama for taking this logical, but necessary step:

• You would criticize him either way, whether he provided help for the drought-hit farmers or he didn't provide help and let free market do its work.
• There are some who might criticize him for poking government's nose when individuals should take care of themselves (libertarian philosophy).

Whether this announcement is politically motivated or not, who cares. We have one of the worst drought to hit our country in the past 25 years. Buying the animal meat which the farmers would otherwise be not able to sell at a reasonable price (meaning wasted meat and everyone comes out as losers), is the right thing to do.

It would interesting to see how Romney-Ryan team reacts to this action which would benefit the mid-western farmers.

If the government would stop interfering in the markets. The markets would reach a state of equilibrium. A necessary beneficial journey to absolute solution needs to take place.

You people really don't understand the system. Family farmers, like myself will receive not a single dime in this government buy out. The large corporate operations are the only ones to benefit from it. As the government buys up the meager crops, all this will do is starve the market and drive prices higher.

Mr. Obama is now putting a band-aid on a problem that will not peak until next summer. Should this drought extent into winter, get ready to dig real dip to pay for food. If it extends into next spring and summer, you'll see $10 a pound ground beef. As for those yakking about fruits and veggies, they are grown in the same drought effected areas so guess what, there won't be many of those either. I know the orchards on my farm were off about 50% from past years. Same for my pecan groves.

Kent519;

As I said, government hand outs go to the corporate operations. Family farmers seldom if ever see them. But then, I've never needed government to hold my hand. I've been farming for over forty years now. I don't do CRP, or any of the other programs to idle land and take it out of production to keep prices artificially high. Don't paint everyone with a broad brush. Until you have lived it, you really don't know. So when you're paying three or four times the price for food next year, remember, Mr. Obama helped greatly to drive the prices up by taking all this food out of the market to help out his corporate friends in the AG business.

Pigotry, we're all suffering just not the farmers. But Mike in Delray is correct. Lower the fed tax that is in gasoline. Help the consumer by asking telling credit card companies to lower interest rates. Help the consumer, the American worker, the middle class. Since obummer said he would cut the deficent by a third in three years and if not he would be a one term prez. Well guess what, you're out. I'm pretty sure your criminal friends in chicago will welcome you with open arms.

The Department of Agriculture intends to buy up to $170 million of pork, lamb, chicken and catfish to help support farmers.....

Now WHERE will the Department of Agriculture obtain $ 170,000,000 for this "Obama project" ?

This is going to turn out as well as the Black Farmer's Fraud under Obama's watch:

• http://cnsnews.com/news/article/investigate-fraud-plagued-115-billion-settlement-black-farmers-congressman-says

Tea Sucks Ever hear of naturally drought resistant edible plants? If the government would stay out, The farmers would have had to adjust as the conditions dictate. This drought would have limited effect on food production.

Isnt this just a form of a bailout? Ahhhh election, Obama is buying votes with tax payers money!

I used to be a republican...since 1993! Few immediate family members were democrats. I realized this is bullsh*t! They are both the same! I see people here arguing, "Republicans would do nothing?", or "Obama, helping people" Or "Obama is giving more handouts".

When people become too dependant on the government..the government can run over you and you would love it!

Starting with Bush...The Patriot Act (taking away many of your rights)

Obama extends the Patriot Act, and then goes further and implements The N.D.A.A, techincally making us all (approx 70%) (by definition) a terrorist.

Romney would have supported it too!!!

When it comes to the military industrial complex, the banking system, and our foreign policy, These TWO parties are the same!

They let you fight over abortion....big deal!

@Jack335

4 years more for Mr President, Not because,Im black,yellow,brown or white, hatred racist B.S nor because,I'm a Farmer,a Small business owner,a Tax Payers or just supporting any Political B.S. But because Im Moderate Midde-Class American.

In other words you're in the group that has suffered the most since this administration came to power but since they claim to be on your side you'll go ahead and vote for him again. Did you buy the bridge they had for sale also? Apparently.

Some people are daft.....

The U.S. Govt isn't subsidizing ranchers with this idea, it is buying food now at a cheaper price that would normally have been purchased later, when there will be a shortage.

And Mr. President, please sign an executive order suspending ethanol requirements in our fuel until this crisis is over. We need corn on the table more than we need it in our gas tanks...

I cannot understand the hated of those on the right. Wait maybe I do. Every time there's an article with Obama in the headlines the trolls come out in groves to bash the president. Even when he is doing something a Republican president would do.

@Ray in Jax

The U.S. Govt isn't subsidizing ranchers ...

Right, that's just how our "hope and change" President is trying to sell it in order to con a few more people into voting for him

Some people are daft.....

Agreed, and those people will likely by into this drivel and vote for the man this November.

Larry-2260635 The limits of dualism are apparent in your thinking. Contributing citizen's responses to this issue is the result of common sense and practicality.

Larry ... totally agree ... even the idiot who wrote this article felt the need to write "During a visit to Iowa, a political swing state that the Democrat hopes to win in the Nov. 6 election" ... kind of sets the stage for the wackos .........

Tea Sucks: "You would criticize Obama either way, whether he provided help for the drought-hit farmers or he didn't provide help and let free market do its work."

BINGO! Tea, if Obama walked on water, those whiners would point at him and sneer, "See! Obama can't swim!" They have no solutions except to hate Obama. That's it. Sick and pathetic.

Ownedbyfew ... if the Gov would just stay out ... who would limit the Monopolies ... or are you just flapping your Ron Paul lips ................

These ideas existed long before Ron Paul. Monopolies vs Free Individuals = The individual wins. Government red tape is as effective as gun control.

Ownedbyfew

Throwing in gun control is a little much but shows clearly where you are coming from ....

And to marry all government rules to red tape reveals a little shallowness all to make a point ....

newscover You negate a known result of government red tape. For example gun control, Criminals bypass regulations.

Ownedbyfew ... there is no way I will get in a discussion with a gun lover! That's why I said it pretty well showed where you were coming from. If one can't figure out for themselves why we shouldn't have unneeded weapons on the streets ... you can't educate them.

newscover Your logic has lead you astray. Criminals should not have firearms. Just like criminals should not have political positions.

@newscover

Ownedbyfew ... if the Gov would just stay out ... who would limit the Monopolies

Limit the monopolies? WTF are you talking about? The government props up monopolies. Or have you never heard the term "too big to fail"?

How about madatory crop insurance laws? Farmers that have crop insurance will experience no income loss due to this drought. Oh I forgot insurance mandates are socialism. It's never socialism when YOU get the government check.

Devil's Son

How about madatory crop insurance laws? Farmers that have crop insurance will experience no income loss due to this drought. Oh I forgot insurance mandates are socialism.

Exactly

It's never socialism when YOU get the government check.

You really don't understand the debate over mandates do you?

"newscover Ownedbyfew ... there is no way I will get in a discussion with a gun lover! That's why I said it pretty well showed where you were coming from."

The reason you will not discuss this is because some people are grumpy when they first wake up. I just hope your frustration is temporary. Otherwise frustrated takes the modern meaning dumb.

Let me see if I get this straight. Obamao borrows and spends over $170 million dollars to buy and provide meat to people who are already getting food stamps that are being paid for by tax payers. This will cause those of us who do work and pay for (but don't qualify for) food stamps to be forced to pay even HIGHER prices for our meat while the welfare crowd is being given theirs for free, and you guys are applauding him for doing so? I guess there really is a need for an improvement in education in this country and I would have to say that they need to insure that they start with basic economics.

BTW if you think the professional food stamp crowd is going hungry, think again. If you have the guts (they're generally in less than nice neighborhoods) spend the first business day of any given month at the grocery store nearest to the local public housing project. You'll feel a lot less "compassion" for the 250+ lb woman with numerous illegitimate brats when you see her pushing that shopping cart filled with hundreds of dollars worth of meat paid for with your tax dollars.

How did gun control get into this? No matter what the subject, someone has to get his/her pet subject into it. I'm surprised that abortion hasn't cropped up in here somewhere.

headhunter22-2886579 "How did gun control get into this?" It is simply a relevant current issue most have knowledge of promoting conversation. Your point is well taken.

Last week the governors of two poultry-growing states, Maryland and Delaware, asked the Obama administration for relief from the requirement to use corn ethanol in gasoline, saying corn is needed to feed livestock.

What BS. Strange request since most Ethanol is produce with Sugarcane or another item and NOT Field Corn (aka Dent Corn). This is pure 100% politics.

I find the comments for this article interesting and amusing. The vast majorities of the postings are not correct and are without any first-hand knowledge or facts. As a reference, I own and operate agriculture companies in the USA, Brazil, Chile, Russia Ukraine, Spain, Georgia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Before someone asks, I have never applied for or received any subsidy. Subsidies are the farmer worst friend and does more harm than good.

The purchasing of crops by the USA government is (grains and meat) NOT necessary, since most producers take out a loan to grow their crop is required by their lender(s) to have Crop Insurance. This type of insurance is for lack of a finished product by Acts of God, fire, and etc, but not low prices. There are some (a small minority) that do not utilize loans to grow their crops or raise their livestock. The unit price for cattle has been increasing for several years and those producers have been doing very well financially and they do not need any help. Poultry, fish, lamb, and pork unit pricing will go down a bit, which is great for the end user. This is a normal event.

Farming is just like any business or investment – everything is at risk. The USA Income Tax payer should NOT bear the burden for this gift. The president is just trying to buy votes in the farming regions where he is extremely weak in popularity.

The current drought hitting parts of the USA does effect the production of most agriculture crops in negative way. It also helps increase the unit prices to those same crops. This helps any producer that grew any impacted crop without a contract for production of a certain amount. Some other major agriculture producing countries had some crop failures as well this Summer – Russian Federation is one.

The really good news is some parts of the USA (California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington) are having good production years thanks to irrigation water. The farmers that have stored grains that have not sold it yet will get top dollars for those crops when they decide to sell.

Supply and Demand always works if the government just gets out of the way.

I think it's buying livestock that doesn't really exist.

I'm not an Economist, but I think you should be in his cabinet...I'm not an Government Lawyer, but I thought buying votes was illegal...I'm not a Republican, but dang, how can the Democrats be so pander-blind

@MR.B

Buying imaginary livestock with imaginary money?

"I'm not a farmer, but I understand supply and demand. Isn't this going to create an artificial shortage of these products and cause the cost for the consumers to go up?"'

Why would it? Remember gas prices were also at one time set by "supply and demand". 1980's and 1990's crude oil was $60 to $80 a barrel, gas was then $0.95 to $1.35 a gallon. Today $80 - $90 crude oil price, $3.90 - $4.25 for a gallon of gas! It's all set by the fat cats on Wall Street on bets of how high they will try to push "future prices" of oil and gas or anything else anymore.They trade corn and OJ just like that. Nothing is priced based on "supply and demand" anymore if it was we wouldn't be paying out the nose for everything that wall street trades.

Dan, sorry but I need to correct you on a few things.

Firstly, the crude price was never in the $60-80 dollar range in the 1980-90. The highest price of crude at that time was $39.50 dollars, and during the late 1980s and the 1990s it was around $20 per barrel

To your credit, the price of gas that you listed was accurate.

*C.gallon+of+gas+1994-_*GasPriceData-&a=UnitClash_*gallon.*Gallons.dflt--

Also, you can look at this graph of the price of the multiple of the price of crude to the the price of gas (I multiplied it by 60 because there are 60 gallons in a barrel). As you can see, between the mid 1990s to now, the multiple we as consumers are paying DROPPED from 3.5 times to around 2 times the price of crude.

*60

All in all, the market system is not broken, despite what the media tries to tell us. I ask that you strive to find the facts next time.

John

Ugh, the links don't work.

Just go to Wolfram Alpha (wolframalpha.com) and search the following:

crude price 1980

crude price 1995

gas price 1995

and

(gas price)/(crude price)*60

Note that they don't have prices for gas in the 1980s.

Yes, an artificial shortage, created at a time when analysts are already telling us food prices are set to soar! These idiots are at it again!

The reality is $170 million isn't much at all really. Our farmers produce billions of dollars worth of goods. the only thing this does is give Obama more fodder for a election commercial. He is trying to look as if he knows what is going on in this country and he still doesn't get it. I voted for the man in 08 but he will not get my vote tis time around. He continues to complain about the tax cuts that he claims the Republicans won't end helping the wealthy but gave BILLIONS to the bankers to pad thier wealth pockets and allowed them to kick millions of people out of thier homes when no jobs were created with ANY of the stimulus money he waisted.

I don'ty vote or think down party lines. If Pat Palson were alive to run this year he would get my vote. At least his speaches might make me laugh not shake my hea in disbelief that we have allowed yet another meathead in office.

@ Mr.Phea

@MR.B

"Buying imaginary livestock with imaginary money?"

The yuan is very real.

John, There are 42 gallons in a barrel of oil.

Pigotry

Thanks, Mr. President.

4 more years - Farmers For Obama.

ditto that, and THANK YOU OBAMA.

Iowan farmers and the people are hurting bad and struggling this season. At least we have a President that is willing to help those that are in need.

Obama 2012

jdl929,

Thanks i was going to tell him that too.

Sure, this is Obama buying votes, that's the Democratic way of getting elected. This also supports another government boondoggle which requires gasoline to contain 10% ethanol made from corn. Buying all of the meat products now means that ranchers can butcher now and won't need corn for feed. This means that what little corn there is, can be used (wasted) on gasoline. Sure food prices will go up, and yes fuel prices will go up because ethanol from corn will become an even bigger losing proposition. Obama doesn't care, as long as he can get re-elected.

this is totally a bunch of crap, to start with you couldn't freeze enough food to make a differance, except to raise prices. this drought with the beef & green losses. i understood farm subsidies when they went into effect, we have had many droughts since then. the gubment telling them what to plant & when & paying them when nothing is supplied at all, greed to highup's is all this is about

It will create an artifical demand for the products. The wholesale prices of these items has dropped significantly over the past month. For example Choice Ribeye Primals were $7.00/pound in June, now it is $6.21/pound. Domestic catfish was $72.00 per 15 pound case at its peak this spring today I will be selling it for $50 per case. Here is the problem...the market is down because of several factors. The price became over inflated and never dropped. Currently, farmer/ranchers are dumping a lot of product on to the market. Which means the supply will depleted so prices will soar once again. Expect beef prices to raise dramatically around November. The Ribeye Roll I am selling for $6.21 today will be close to or above $8.00/per pound.

The main problem with why gas is so expensive is the value of the dollar and the oil is traded in dollars. Due to the FEd printing money out if thin air with nothing to back it to pay for wars and give foreign countries billions of our dollars. Has caused the dolar to weaken meaning its not worth as much so in stead of needed one dollar to buy a gallon you now need 3 dollars. If we had a currency that was backed by something instead of fiat money (worthless money) we would not be in the position we are in. We are heading towards the greatest depression ever seen. Caused by bankers the government and the NWO.

It's either that or let it rot or die and go to waste. Feed the hungry, it is a good idea.

We need to fix the problems long term, not with under sized band aids, our President (and his team) is a slick talker but talk is not fixing anything, and band aids fall off after a short time his concept is all wrong. don't put a band aid on it fix it! and what does 170 m solve about .0006% of of the problem? just guessing at figures but what is the price on the hoof, sorry Obama you get a F putting a Band aid on a compound fracture will not get the runner across the finish line. but it might get you some votes from people to stupid to see the whole picture.

Droughts are inevitable, we know this!

We are supposed to be prepared, we know that!

We should have a back up, we used to!

What happened?

Why?

We see what you did Mr Obama, you did next to nothing, print some more money maybe the people can eat that when the freezer empties out. you could not manage a 7-11 let alone the Nation, don't fix the problem just stick another band aid on it, tell me what your long term plan is, do you have one? the President has given us nothing for the four years of office, pay, housing, use of a jet, vacations, golf trips, free meals, limo's and entertainment fund. well I hope come November things will change. this party has got to end. talk can not run this nation.

Everytime Obama does something, you people on the right claim it is vying for votes or pandering... Perhaps he should do nothing?

The conservative party has lost it's mind.... You have been tea bagged....

@Arieus

Iowan farmers and the people are hurting bad and struggling this season. At least we have a President that is willing to help those that are in need.

My business is struggling also, in fact it's pretty much in the toilet. Except my problems haven't been caused by a drought, they've been caused by the economic turmoil and uncertainty brought about by this administration. So where is my hand-out? If this President wants to help the people he can step aside now. He has said himself he wouldn't deserve a second term if he failed to meet certain expectations and he's fallen miserably short.

Bottom line, even he realizes he doesn't deserve to be re-elected so why the hell can't all of his puppets figure it out?

Freedom Hound;

"Artificial Shortage?" You living under a rock right? What part of record drought haven't you seen? The shortages already exist. All this buy out is gong to do is drive market prices higher still because of government hoarding. So you can thank Mr.Obama for the higher prices to help his corporate friends.

jooberdoober;

So the choice is sell it to "O" or it will rot? Are you high? Most of it has already died due to the drought. Most of the corn crop never produced an ear of corn. The soy beans that are not dead, are extremely stressed and won't produce half what the should have. Crops are never left to rot in the field. Why can't you people see this fro what it is, a handout to pander votes from his corporate friends in the AG business? First it was pandering to the Latino/ LA Raza/ Illegal alien crowd, then it was GLBT people by ragging on the Boy Scouts, Now it's trying to gander votes by throwing money to the corporate farm companies. And that's just in the last month. Wow, the "O" should be for Obvious, to everyone but you Obamabot's. The sooner this guy is replaced the better.

@Dan-433153

Why would it? Remember gas prices were also at one time set by "supply and demand".

Gas prices are STILL set by supply and demand as are all commodities. Just because people are shuffling paper back and forth instead of hauling around the actual product doesn't mean the prices are not set by supply and demand.

People buy and sell commodities based upon what they anticipate the market will be in the future. If people think prices will go up they buy, if they think prices will fall they sell. The more demand for the commodities being traded the higher the price goes, less demand and the price falls. See how simple that works if you only take a second to set the rhetoric aside and look at some actual facts?

Backcountry....

Read what you wrote.....

Sounds to me that the speculators are actually responsible for the market swings in prices. If they are dumping (selling) a commodity that they predict will fall in price, guess what? They just created more supply and lowered the price.

As for your failing business, it's easy to blame someone else isn't it? And you advise others to put rhetoric aside, when your posts are full of it....

Nicodemus1946 - No, I came out from under my rock quite a while ago. What I was asking was this;

The shortage from the drought is with the grains to feed the animals, not with the animals themselves. Most of the farms in my area are starting to cut down the corn to be used for silage. The price of grain is going to soar, so the farmers will not be able to afford the grain to feed the animals. Therefore they will have to butcher and sell, or raise prices dramatically, or both. In either case, there will be no grains available.

So from what I can tell, the department of agriculture is going to buy up all the meat at the lower prices and cause an even greater shortage and drive prices even higher.

Am I wrong?

Ray in Jax

Sounds to me that the speculators are actually responsible for the market swings in prices. If they are dumping (selling) a commodity that they predict will fall in price, guess what? They just created more supply and lowered the price.

Of course they are respnsible, you've basically just repeated what I said. You do realize that's still supply and demand right?

As for your failing business, it's easy to blame someone else isn't it? And you advise others to put rhetoric aside, when your posts are full of it....

Yeah it is easy, I've been listening to our President do it for the better part of 4 years. I wonder how critical you've been of him for doing it? I suspect not at all.

Avenger-2464988, $170 million isn't that much money

Yes $170 million is a lot of money. That's the problem. Every one that wants wasteful spending says it's not that much money. $170 million here. $170 million there. $170 million everywhere. When everyone is done it's TRILLIONS! Time for farmers to get off the public teet. No business enjoys the largess that the farmer does.

The middle class gets screwed again by the Idiot-in-Chief.

"Why would it? Remember gas prices were also at one time set by "supply and demand". 1980's and 1990's crude oil was $60 to $80 a barrel, gas was then $0.95 to $1.35 a gallon. Today $80 - $90 crude oil price, $3.90 - $4.25 for a gallon of gas!"

Still supply and demand. Supply hasn't greatly increased in 30 years, but world demand has more than doubled with China and India leading the way. When demand increases and supply remains constant, prices go up.

This is why we need more drilling in the USA. We need to drill on federal land with the stipulation that all that oil stays in the USA.

Just another of the many political moves to get votes at the expense of tax payers. It will continue the astronomical rise in food prices and FRAUD within this program will be the next news we read about......the farmers can't wait.

@Windancersong-1494878

My concerns are down the road ...

If only we had a President who would even consider such a thing let alone be concerned by it.

What’s another $170 Million to Obama – pocket change! And
whose pocket’s – taxpayers! If the November election doesn’t take the U.S.
currency printing press away from Obama the middleclass families in America
will suffer the most. Higher food prices won’t hurt the rich, or the millions already on food stamps, leaving only the middleclass left to pick up the bill.

Additionally, the middleclass in our 21^st century produce very little of the food America consumes. A random tour of U.S. farms will show predominately huge operations, often incorporated and run as big businesses out of luxurious homes and with over a $million in equipment.

Once again, it is a ploy by Obama to use our tax dollars in an attempt to multiply by dividing - dividing voters in controversy in a hope to multiply votes for his diehard ‘big government’ ideology and reelection. Our nation’s economy can either be dictated by the market, or our government – it is impossible for both to create any success because one eliminates the other.

Windancer: The cost for what does reach the market will be higher and taxpayers will be footing the bill for bailing out the farmers.

Thank you, I made a post this morning when the first article about this hit the home page, but I was in a hurry and didn't have time to put it as straightforward as your sentence explains it. The President knows this will cause more pain for the little man a couple months down the road because he has people who tell him what the consequences are for such actions, but it's election time and he cares not how he screws up the little people as long as it's too late when the find out they've been duped. Keep 'em happy till Nov. 7 and then start lying 'cause it won't hurt him none then.

It's worse than that. The farmers may be getting paid, but the taxpayers are getting screwed big time. The meat will be handed to the people who are living on food stamps already while those of us who are paying for the food stamps won't be able to afford to buy the very same meats that our tax dollars are being used to buy for someone else who have never held a job. Don't believe me? Spend the first business day of the month at the grocery store closest to the housing projects and see how much meat is being carried out the door that is being paid for with food stamps. It isn't ground beef either. It's roasts, steaks, full pork butts and shoulders and 40 lb boxes of chicken parts.

I've seen it happen time and again, Lt. Scrounge, exactly as you described it.

How is this a win-win? Supply and demand says this will run up the prices of these commodities. It might help support the prices for a short while, as the farmers are liquidating their stock. Buying large amounts now will help more farmers decide to liquidate (sell off their herds) quickly.

The big winner seems to be the electric utilities and refrigeration manufacturers who profit from freezing and storing large quantities of stuff. By freezing for "later use", it guarantees that there will be a time in the future with lower demand. This will be when farmers/ranchers are trying to restart their operations - there will be less support to get them going again.

Last I heard these folks purchased drought insurance.

Most people who are not involved in agriculture do not realize that like all other insurance, you pay for the amount of coverage you can afford. Most farmers and ranchers cannot pay "full coverage" on their investment and often times can pay for only the minimum (livestock per head, seeds, pesticides and fertilizer), not the return on the whole crop or the total price of feeding a head of livestock throughout its lifetime until it goes to market. So the farmer is stuck with fuel cost, storage cost, depreciation, the list goes on and on.

Also, what does the farmer do with damage to his land: erosion from wind and water -- eventually the drought will end and usually that occurs with flooding rains, no "green manure" to till back into the soil, increased weeds in the fields because most hybrid grain varieties do not do well in drought conditions and weeds take over. Again the list goes on and on.

Most people need to find out where their food comes from and how very, very tough it is to produce.

Folks, how much impact is $170M really going to have? These industries combined have many billions of dollars a year in sales. This is really a drop in the bucket, more of a political gesture than something that is going to actually drive prices...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H7zOQrX3U

Sung to "I'm Sexy and I Know It" -- this is "I'm Farming and I Grow It", a video produced by 'farm' boys to enlighten their 'city' college friends what it's like to live on a farm. Just the equipment alone costs a small fortune, so I have no problem with the 'small individual' farm families getting help during this drought. If you want to help further, check out where you can buy locally grown produce in your area.

The old proverb, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you", still applies.

I have farmers on both sides of me. They took a hit with the frost several times this year. I understand their frustration, when they apply fertilizer, fungicide,and pesticide for nothing, and all it does is empty their wallets. I also understand that the local grocery chains, including Walmart, purchase those locally grown goods for the community.

If anything, the President is looking out for peoples interest, like keeping our water safe to drink, providing food for the hungry,giving everyone a chance to have equal rights, and stabilizing the economy.

As much as I hate ethanol and the use of corn for gasoline, at least it put's a dent in the amount of oil used to produce it in the long run, and it has stabilized pricing. Remember how you had to shop for a cheaper gas station every week? Some had a 10 to 20 cent difference. Generic food is stable pricing, but brand name is not. That's what you'll get with the GOP competitive pricing in health care rates.

Remember"Don't bite the hand that feeds you".

People on welfare know where food comes from, it comes from food stores and food banks, you don't have to work at planting it! just show your food stamp card and its yours, why some people work so damn hard to get it is beyond their reasoning it makes no sense just go get it, plant a garden that requires effort, help with harvest that sounds like work, can your own food why? its already in a can at the food bank, raise your own beef why its in the meat counter at the Wall Mart. now what to do with all this free time easy make babies and get more government money . why waste farmland growing vegetables when the super markets are full of vegetables, grow pot that's getting hard to find.

And these people vote! its funny the party that will control the government is the party that can create the most poor people dependant on government. then just make a few empty promises to the poor and they win the election. sounds real stable doesn't it, its Obamanism.

What is wrong with feeding yourself?

I think the party before this one created the poor people.Obama's just trying to keep their heads above water,seeing the Party of NO abandoned the credit card bill..

Some thing this important and all you can do is make fun of a letter being left off? Typical idiot lib.

pull your libtard brain out of your a$$

And your boyfriend Romney isn't buying votes? Then what the hell has he been outspending Obama's campaign almost 2 for 1 for? Oh that's right. He did say the 70 million Obama sent to Israel for their shiny new missiles wasn't nearly enough, didn't he? And after all, it's them that count, not the American public and its needs. Maybe he'll hand Netinblahoo a billion. No higher security priority for America than supporting some other country's warmongering. That's straight out of your hero's flip flopping mouth.

Can't wait for your $200 million dollar dummy to beat Obama. Oh, the times we'll have...speaking of which, we'll be hosting a community backgammon tournament in the southeast corner of fallout shelter A265-303 every Friday at 9pm. Just punch the numbers from that building code into your GPS and you'll find us. Don't B L8.

At least your name fits you. Moron.

Herrin Schadenfreude

Actually, Romney isn't buying votes. He and his campaign are buying commercial air-time. Much like Obama is doing.

However, it is there that the similarities end. Obama is buying votes, with taxpayer money by doing things like he just announced. He is committing OUR money to assuage a certain electoral block by purchasing their product, which likely will further increase the price of that product at the store where we, the taxpayers, shop.

So, in truth, we get the glorious distinction of paying inflated prices for a product that we the taxpayers had the distinction of creating the shortage in the first place by a politician using OUR money to buy the product creating the shortage in his effort to remain in office while professing to be helping the taxpayers.

"AppleTARD" speaks out of his AFT PARTS again....

"natural selection"....great idea....is THAT in the US Constitution??

An intelligent person REJECTS all of what comes from your keyboard...

Are there SOCIALISTS hiding under your bed ? Careful, they might attack you in your sleep....

I guess this means that now the government controls the food, along with the water, the health care, education, housing, the military, transportation and recreation, I suppose that it wont be long and they will control commerce as well then we can all be equally broke. and they do such a fine job of running everything.

Your absolutely correct. The best thing our government could do is get our energy and food supply out of the hands of wallstreet traders. Thye drive up prices on speculation and often times that speculation is based on someone wanting to make more money not on reality.

Avenger-2464988....based on someone wanting to make more money not on reality..... Do you mean like the tax breaks for the RICH to create all those jobs that don't exist? The biggest freeloaders in this country are the RICH, who just so happen to be REPUBLICSCUM, go figure. Don't do anything for the avrage people, just give it to us. And then the REPUBLICSCUM, ALL, whine about handouts by the democrats to the people who really do need it. What a TOTAL, EMBARASSING, JOKE the REPUBLICSCUM are to this country.

Yea, damn wall street bunch all they care about is making your retirement funds grow, guaranteeing you a independent future and money in your portfolio to live a decent retirement, While the unions are robbing you blind and dividing up your retirement money amongst themselves. while the Democrats are eyeing that money to give to some teenager that could not figure out what that rubber is for. it can't get more screwed up. unless we start spending more on the ME then we spend at home.

President Obama will do and say anything to keep contol of Americans. Surely more vote buying with tax payer money.

Not racist, determined or angry... Just plain old "Proud" for the first time to be an American.

Must have known about the vacation deal that came with being married to the POTUS.

By gosh to peas in a pod, of newly printed money.

The first lady spent more then that on family vacations. I guess the American people are easy to buy.

Are you drunck or something?

He's drunk on Obungajuice. It's been cold where I live. Where is 'global warming' when you need it?

Freedom4everyone wants us to change the weather, great idea why don't we just do that, if we back up 10,000 years then it would be cold enough for all the farmland to be under a thousand feet of Ice would that be cool enough? all we have to do is agitate one super volcano to blow and we can be in a instant ice age. don't worry about the weather its temporary, changes all the time.

In order for cloud seeding to work there must be moisture in the air. It's too dry. Cloud seeding won't work.

I don't think you realize just how dry it really is.

Oh, no. Not for 300+ million people, this is just trying to buy the farm vote.

The department of defense is going to need lots of food to feed all the UN troops that will be needed to disarm America and bring civil obedience to the land after Obama lowers the boom on us unruly moderates and Conservatives.

Smells more than of a rat. They must have had some involment along the way. Then the program can be administered by them and they can take some dollars out for their part in it along the way.

Gee, with Sequestration looming on the horizon (1 Jan 2013) the Dept of Defense-DOD) will have a mandatory $500 Billion deleted from their budget. How can the DOD spend $170 Million for the meat? 34% of their $500 Billion loss added?

jack, read the article, it said encourage the DOD's vendors to buy, the vendors supply the military with food for our service personnel, you know those folks that protect us. They need to eat on a regular basis too. The optimum word was encourage. The Dept. of Agr. is the entity buying directly from the Farmers and Ranchers. The draught has caused a disaster in the mid-west, the farmers and ranchers need help, what is the alternative let them go under, if that is the case then all the support businesses go under too. In times of disaster we look to the government for help, we rode out Katrina and eventually got assistance. Not only is this short term assistance, but in the long term that will mean farmers and ranchers are still in business to provide Americans with food.

Skyparrot

I am quite familiar "who defends us" - spent 24 years, 1969-1993, 2 major wars and a few "less than major wars" but still got shot at!.

Ever think the vendors or contractors won't buy it as cheap as possible and then add their % to the DOD bill that pays the vendors?

Maybe you should "read between the lines" my little Troll - you seem to carry the line well in all of your posts. Go back under the bridge and ascertain facts before you try to "shoot someone elses thoughts down" because you disagree nor can fathom the answer.

Jack from Jax - you need to work on your math skills and your reading comprehension. There's a difference between M's and B's. 170 MILLION is not 34% of 500 BILLION. It's easy to see how you guys get so easy distracted, confused and worked up when you can't do simple math in your head.

Thanks Suburban Guerilla. Sometimes I have to get naked to count to 21! LOL

Tone it down Herrin. Your hate does no good.

Wow talk about programing, is it possible to really believe all that Crap?

Thanks Big Jerz, nice to see someone woke up this morning able to think.

And tinfoil makes good hats as you know all to well.

If this is standard operating policy for the government then why the added publicity and the familiar self pat on the back for Obama. I was under the impression that those purchases would fall under the dept of Agriculture and then turned over to other agencies, and the question remains where ar the grain reserves we are supposed to have to feed livestock in the event of drought. something is wrong with this over all picture or the media is pulling our strings. something is not right or part of the story is missing.

Probably couldn't get that one pulled off in time before the election. Relief and assistance money they can get pushed right through. That's fine, let Odumbo pay it out. It's not going to make any difference. The majority in Iowa will turn right around and vote him out in Nov! We can and we will. They keep calling Iowa a "swing state". Did they forget, we voted in a repub govenor this last election? And that he has the State out of the hole?

And that between 8 terrible years of Tom Villsack and Chet Culver that almost completed destroyed our State, Obama looks to us for votes!!!???

He must really be dreaming!