Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160083
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
About $1.8 billion out of $106 billion paid in subsidy checks by the government from 1985 to 1994 went to residents of the nation's 50 most populous cities or their major suburbs or satellite communities, the Environmental Working Group says in a study.
The report, released to coincide with a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing today, underscores what the environmentalists claim is a critical flaw in America's depression-era farm programs - those who own the most are rewarded, not those most in need.
``Massive and widespread cash payments to absentee interests in cities are just one of many indications that America's federal farm subsidy programs are out of control,'' the group said in its report, titled ``City Slickers.'' It noted that farms in 42 states generated payments to residents of New York City.
But don't tell that to J. Henry Warren, who has his feet firmly planted in Nebraska soil when he's not living in lower Manhattan.
Warren wasn't identified by name in the environmental group's report, but The Associated Press easily located him from government records cited in the report showing that the subsidy checks for his corn crop are sent to New York City.
The 66-year-old Nebraska native was hauling dirt Wednesday at his Holt County farm near Atkinson. ``I'm here a good period of time,'' he said from a telephone in his tractor. ``I'll be here all spring and summer.''
Warren's attachment is financial and emotional. He grew up in Atkinson. His father bought the land in 1940, then died in 1944. Warren leased out the farm for more than two decades, then operated it through a manager for the last 20 years, maintaining daily contact by phone and fax while in New York. Throughout, the farm has been his only source of income.
After receiving more than $500,000 in government payments over the past 10 years, Warren said he has just leased out the farm again so he can retire and draw Social Security benefits.
Allen Richard also wasn't identified by name when highlighted in the environmental group's report as the top ``farmer'' in Washington, receiving more than $286,000 in subsidy payments over the 10 years.
Richard says he really was a farmer - in Rolette County, N.D. - when he got most of the money attributed to him. He lived in the nation's capital for only two years and he received only $495 during that time, according to that data. Richard left North Dakota in 1990 and sold his farm interests.
Though New York and Washington figured in the report, the top payments went to hub cities for major farming areas. Fresno, Calif., topped the list with $103.4 million in payments to 1,706 recipients; Sacramento, Calif., followed with $102.9 million to 1,054; Omaha, Neb., $79.9 million, 3,903 payees; Phoenix, $71.6 million to 1,619; Dallas, $71.4 million to 4,420; Houston, $69.7 million, to 6,204; Memphis, Tenn., $66.2 million to 3,448; and Miami, $54.5 million, to 1,729.
The report notes that absentee arrangements are perfectly legal, and doesn't really look at who received the payments.
by CNB