Byron Dorgan: “I want to talk just for a moment about agriculture and the challenge facing agriculture. On Saturday, I was in an…”

“I want to talk just for a moment about agriculture and the challenge facing agriculture. On Saturday, I was in an airplane and opened up a newspaper to an interesting article. I have spoken about agriculture and family farmers during the past weeks. I have talked about what is happening in our part of the country with the depopulation of middle America, rural communities drying up--shriveling like prunes, people moving out--not moving in, Main Street businesses boarding up, family farmers going broke, and nobody seemingly caring very much. The business section of the Minneapolis Tribune had two fascinating stories on the front page. They respond in a kind of perverse way to what is happening, both in this Chamber and also around the country with respect to the policy dealing with family farmers. The first article: 'Cargill Profits from Decline in Farm Prices; 53 percent jump in earnings expected.' Cargill is a large company and has always done quite well, I believe. It is a privately held company. It purchases agricultural products and is involved in a wide range of activities adding value to agricultural products. 'Cargill Profits from Decline in Farm Prices.' Is that unusual? No. Big agribusinesses all too often are profiting from the misery of America's family farmers. Family farmers on the one side go broke; while Cargill sees a 53 percent jump in earnings.”