New Law To Help Local Farmers, Families
53 views · Published 21 June 2012 · 1:59 · Indexed 24 October 2026
Channel: Dayton 24/7 Now · 2012 · News & Politics
DAYTON -- The U.S. Senate is set to pass a bill that could help save you money at the supermarket. Farmer Glenn Monnin couldn't be happier about it. His family has been growing fruit and vegetables to feed Dayton families for more than 50 years."When we first started here, there used to be six farms in this area. No we're the only ones left. People are going out of business more and more," said Monnin.Monnin says his biggest profit problem is big businesses farming. They've been getting government subsidies so they can make a profit no matter what, even when the cost of a bushel of corn is at rock bottom prices. Lawmakers say under the Farm Bill, those subsidies will be used to pay down the national deficit."Millionaires aren't going to get farm subsidies anymore, corporate farms aren't going to get them. It saves billions of dollars over a year," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D) Ohio.Monnin says the Farm Bill isn't going to give him any funding to help with his crop, even though that would be beneficial since he lost about half of it to the April freeze. However he is happy with the bill because it's going to cut subsidies to the big businesses farms."It's going to create more of a level playing field for us smaller farmers competing with the big corporation farms," he said.And Monnin says fair farming for his family will help yours too. By removing heavy government backing from the big dogs, local farmers will be given the opportunity to thrive, which will make locally grown food more readily available."The food is outstanding and I like coming here for the atmosphere," said Monnin customer, Cindy Talley."They're thankful to have a choice. They don't want to have to buy this stuff from a supermarket chain where they have no idea where it even came from," said Monnin.The Farm Bill also contains incentives for local restaurants, schools, and hospitals to buy from local farmers. The Senate is expected to pass the bill Thursday.
