Agriculture Quote by Barack Obama
“I do think that there is a big difference between family farms and agri-business, and one of the distressing things that I think has occurred is with consolidation of farm lands. You've seen large agri-businesses benefit from enormous profits from existing farm programs, and I think we should be focusing most of those programs on those family farmers.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Agriculture Policy, United States Department of Agriculture, 2012
The speaker highlights the widening gap between small family farms and large agribusinesses, urging policy to prioritize support for family farmers over corporate consolidation.
In simple terms: Support family farms, not big agribusinesses.
Key Takeaway
Redirect subsidies to family farms.
Themes
agriculture
policy
equity
economics
rural development
Mood
concerned
determined
hopeful
Type
political
advocacy
policy
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- legislative advocacy
- community farming
- local food systems
- farm co‑ops
Key Concepts
consolidation
subsidies
farm size disparity
corporate profit
food security
Questions to Reflect On
- How can policies balance efficiency with fairness?
- What mechanisms ensure family farms remain viable?
A Different Perspective
Large agribusinesses can also drive innovation and economies of scale that benefit consumers.
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