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Animal Welfare Leader Says Farmer Aid from Government Still Needed

  • Writer: Bob Benenson
    Bob Benenson
  • Mar 19
  • 2 min read

Follow-up to Farmer Marty Thomas' Column on Local Food Self-Sufficiency


Last week, Local Food Forum publishes an article about Kakadoodle Farm — which has been hit with a double whammy of an avian flu outbreak and federal funding freeze —and owner Marty Thomas' optimistic vision of a future with a more self-sufficient local food ecosystem that is less dependent on government assistance.


We received a response from Harry Rhodes, executive director of Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) and a longtime leader in the food non-profit community. Harry differs with Marty on some key points about the need for government aid. His commentary is published in its entirety below.


We have also received a new column from Marty Thomas clarifying his earlier remarks, which we will publish on Thursday (March 20).


———————

From Harry Rhodes:


The problem, as I see it, is that a free market really doesn't exist anywhere. Without government funding most enterprises and corporations would not exist, or at least not as we know them.


Most startups rely on outside funding, much of it from the government, for R&D and to build up their businesses. Industrial farming relies on government subsidies, which enable them to sell cheap food and make huge profits. It is very hard for small farmers to compete in these marketplaces.


I have heard farmers say that they would be happy to compete in a truly fair market, where nobody gets a government subsidy. I don't believe that this will ever happen, which is why I think we need to change our priorities and support the small, independent farmer to help them grow and compete.


The other problem with Marty's argument is that in the end they are relying on philanthropy instead of the government to fund their initiatives. As a startup farmer, the money for capital — which most farmers have told FACT they desperately need — must come from somewhere.


While philanthropy is good and important, it does not seem to me that it will ever take the place of government support for farmers and for our food system.





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