Federal government may cut Colorado farm subsidies

The federal government may cut millions of dollars a year in direct subsidy payments to Colorado farmers for corn, wheat and soybean crops.

The cuts are part of agriculture reform heading to the U.S. Senate in a couple of months. Instead of subsidies, farmers are asking for a government-backed insurance program that would safeguard farmers hurt by drought, pests and other crop risks.

Colorado received more than $4 billion in subsidies from 1995 to 2010.

Many farmers say they no longer need the direct payments that started in 1933 to help family farms survive and keep farmers producing enough crops for Americans during the Depression.

Comments are closed.