Sunday, November 11, 2007

The Farmers of Manhattan Need Your Money


EWG Farm Subsidy Database has an interactive version of the map above. It's a map of farm subsidies, with the largest red dots representing the homes of farmers receiving over $250,000.00 in government subsidies, the smallest represent farmers receiving less than $10,000.00 in government subsidies. And in case you don't have good eyesight, that's a map of Long Island.

What would happen to our nation, our economy, and our way of life if the farmers of Manhattan couldn't afford to cultivate Central Park? What would happen to our food prices if David Rockefeller (big red dot) could no longer afford to sell fresh vegetables from the back of his pickup? Would Broadway be Broadway without the familiar John Deere tractors making their way from 42nd street to Tavern on The Green? What if the residents of the West Side can't purchase products made from locally grown wheat?

There's a way of life at stake here !

As I understand it, the current farm bill has made it through the House and the Senate. Please call or write your Senator or Rep, and encourage them to overide any Bush veto of the farm subsidies bill. The farmers of Manhattan are the backbone of America. We've given them money in exchange for campaign contributions for so long, it wouldn't be fair to stop now.

For a more detailed explanation of The Manhattan Farming Crisis, check out the blog of The Advice Goddess.

2 comments:

Owen said...

Please note that Manhattan Island is not Long Island.

The Whited Sepulchre said...

Owen,
Thanks for the correction!
If only people would note that Manhattan residents aren't farmers....