Letter from America : Even with subsidies, farmers are worried
The News Review:
- Letter from America : Even with subsidies, farmers are worried
- Outgoing Portland Mayor Katz put city above herself
- Beattie could be sold, says Redknapp
Letter from America : Even with subsidies, farmers are worried
International Herald Tribune – Dec 27, 2004
"It just seems like they're never happy. " Ed Miller, who owns a family feed and seed store in Sidney that caters to small farmers, said his business was not up despite the increase in farm income, because most of the big corporate farms that are doing particularly well do not buy from the local seed dealers. So it is not surprising that the current subsidy system is drawing home-grown criticism from people like Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, who says it is only widening the gap between large and smaller farmers, while not helping rural America. The subsidies have also drawn criticism from farmers who grow fruits, vegetables and nuts — nearly half of U. agriculture — but have nothing like the elaborate safety net in place for corn, cattle, wheat and hog producers. "We don't get payments, and we don't want them," said Tom Nassif, president of the Western Growers Association, which represents farmers in the nation's biggest agricultural state, California…
According to those records, supplied by the Agriculture Department, Miller, the small wheat and millet farmer, received $18,449 in subsidies last year, and a total of $189,254 over the past nine years. His neighbor down the road, a wheat farmer named Ronald Jessen, was paid $424,387 over the past nine years, according to the database. Jessen's father, Raymond, got $485,096 in government money, and his brother, Michael Jessen, got $356,769 Over all, Nebraska got $7. 5 billion in government farm payments over the past nine years. * E-mail: pagetwo@iht.
Outgoing Portland Mayor Katz put city above herself
Seattle Times – Dec 27, 2004
“I think we have a good relationship with the office of the mayor. For Katz, economic development took on added importance during her last four years in office as the state fell into a recession that yielded the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Her critics say that she often appeared out of touch with the complaints of Portland’s business community, which was stung by the departures of home-grown Columbia Sportswear to nearby Washington County and Louisiana-Pacific Corp. to a new headquarters in Tennessee. Katz does not accept the criticism. “As I look up and see the many construction cranes currently outlined along the city’s skyline, I shake my head that there are still people who criticize Portland as a bad place to do business,” Katz said in her final state-of-the-city speech this month. During that speech she also cited her concern over a continuing struggle to maintain funding for Portland Public Schools.
Beattie could be sold, says Redknapp
Ireland Online – Dec 27, 2004
This is Redknappâs plan, fielding a new-look Southampton line-up to pull them out of trouble after yesterdayâs goalless draw with Charlton stretched their dismal record to 17 matches containing just one win. They visit Liverpool tomorrow and Manchester City on Saturday. And although England striker Beattie looked woefully out of touch in his return from a calf injury and broken toe, his record represents top value among home-grown goalscorers. He has been the top English scorer in the last few seasons when Thierry Henry of Arsenal and Manchester Unitedâs Ruud van Nistelrooy have ruled the Premiership roost. Redknapp said: âWe would like to keep him but we need to inject other players with confidence. âWe need to get players in who can use the ball with confidence and play without fear under pressure. âIt was another struggle against Charlton and it was a poor performance, a poor game to be fair.