Every time I criticize government subsidization, handouts, and welfare money, I realize that I am not necessarily practicing what I preach. In any given year, my family’s income very well depends upon our government’s ability to provide grain subsidies.

I’m not proud of the fact that we sometimes rely on the government. My free market, capitalist tendencies have led to quite a mental conflict as I watch my family collect checks from Uncle Sam. People often use the example as a means for getting inside my seemingly impervious mindset. At times, this becomes tiresome, but I’ve worked to come to grips with the fact that we profit from government subsidies.

If the U.S. decided to halt loan deficiency payments, grain subsidies, and government set-aside programs, we would do just fine. American agriculture and my family in particular is capable of adjusting to changes. We’re constantly looking for ways to bring new income to our farm. Through wind power, alternative crops, a farm management business, and livestock production, my family has survived tough times in agriculture. Unfortunately, the government has also been there holding our hands.

I place much of the blame on the very government that helps us. I watch as ignorant foreign policy decisions close potential markets for American crops. Until recently, I watched our government rely heavily on foreign oil while our endless supply of ethanol remained untapped. Our government has failed to lobby hard for the acceptance of genetically modified crops abroad, and our minimum wage and environmental laws make it difficult for American farmers to produce commodities at a profit. I also see us landowners getting hit hard with property taxes to fund our flawed state education system. Our government hinders the ability of American farmers to be competitive in the global economy.

Still, I wonder what I would do if I made the policy decisions in our country. This is not a ludicrous thought, as I still hold some desire to participate in policy-making some day.

I’ve decided that a phase out of grain subsidies will be necessary to keep American agriculture competitive in the continually shrinking global marketplace. Many farmers and some advocacy groups argue that the small, American farmer will cease to exist if producers are forced to produce at a profit. Only large, commercial farms will remain.

My thought is those who are willing to work hard and adapt to change will ultimately remain profitable. I place my family and myself among this group. While I hope that we never lose our quaint way of life, I know that my father and myself will work hard to keep the lifestyle that my family has held for generations. We must adapt and we will.

The future of American agriculture will rely on our ability to vertically integrate. Synergy, integration, globalization, and other overly used, business “buzz words” have a place in agriculture too. Rather than increasing acreage, yields, and subsidies, we must work toward creating markets for products and taking our products to the next stage of product manufacturing. Producers must become involved in turning our commodities into products used by consumers. This ensures demand for our commodities, shifts some manufacturing profits to producers, and ultimately reduces dependency on government subsidization.

Producers and young advocates must also get involved in the transition. Rather than waiting for forced adaptation, we can be proactive in transitioning to a self-financing agricultural economy. Strength in numbers and the willingness to assume risks will allow us to achieve the integration necessary to provide for our needs and establish a foundation for future generations of agriculturalists.

Until I see policy and directional changes, I’ll hang my head slightly whenever I see an envelope in the mail from the government. However, I know that I won’t always have to open it. Our country’s fertile soil and her fertile minds will provide the necessary tools to keep our agricultural economy strong.

I see the future and the future of American agriculture is bright.