Farm subsidies vex Southern progressives

Farm subsidies present challenges to Southern progressives. On the one hand, most progressive institutions have lined up against the supports, because they disproportionately benefit big operations, present barriers to third-world agricultural imports and cost so much.

On the other hand, so much of the Southern economy is still centered around farming, and the subsidies help keep a struggling industry afloat. Plus the extra domestic production keeps food prices low, which is good for poor people. And a native food supply that does not rely on imports is arguably a national security interest.

As Southern progressives wrestle with the issue, some recent news coverage is worth examining.

Monday's Washington Post focused on farm subsidy payments. An article on Sunday focused on the $1 billion paid to people who don't farm. The Post also listed the top 10 recipients of farm subsidies in each county in the U.S., as well as a map showing where loan deficiency payments were concentrated.