# U.S. agricultural policy is little more than corporate welfare

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-agricultural-policy-is-little-more-than-corporate-welfare/506744>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 17, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-agricultural-policy-is-little-more-than-corporate-welfare/506744 "2009-08-17T17:03:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-agricultural-policy-is-little-more-than-corporate-welfare/506744/41 "2009-08-22T13:10:16Z")

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> [@kunilou](#):
>
> In fact, no one is better at producing meat than the U.S., particularly beef. We’re so good that the meat industry doesn’t get any subsidies, other than the same type of trade assistance that every export industry gets.

This isn’t really true. The massive corn subsidies result in much lower feed prices than you’d see in a non-distorted market. It’s not a direct subsidy, but it does have a pretty direct impact on a feedlot’s bottom line.

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-agricultural-policy-is-little-more-than-corporate-welfare/506744/42 "2009-08-24T01:31:28Z")

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> [@Gorsnak](#):
>
> This isn’t really true. The massive corn subsidies result in much lower feed prices than you’d see in a non-distorted market. It’s not a direct subsidy, but it does have a pretty direct impact on a feedlot’s bottom line.

I’ll grant that point. Livestock producers benefit from cheap feed. But other governments support their meat industries in various ways (direct and indirect supports, restrictive trade policies, etc.) and if you adjust the cost of the final product for the cost of feed, the U.S. is still very competitive/

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