Farmers blamed for rising cost of food

Congressmen form both sides of the aisle point the finger at farmers for skyrocketing grocery prices, but oil prices are ‘main culprit’ says leader of National Farmers Union.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Lawmakers heaped blame on farmers – and the subsidies they receive – for pushing up food costs at a Congressional hearing on Thursday scrutinizing the impact of soaring food and gas prices on American consumers.

The criticism levied by the Joint Economic Committee, led by Sen. Charles Schumer D-N.Y. transcended party lines. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J., a ranking member of the committee, called for “genuine reform” of the “nightmare of wasteful, outdated [farm] subsidies.”


Richard Reinwald, a bakery owner from Huntington, N.Y. blamed rising wheat prices on farmers “growing crops for fuel and not food.”

The meeting of the Joint Economic Committee followed comments on Tuesday from President Bush, who referred to a farm bill currently in legislation as “bloated” and incapable of significantly reducing food prices.

CNN