Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) recently penned a letter to the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) demanding one of two things: cheaper food on the shelves or an apology for unfairly blaming ethanol and grain producers for higher retail food prices.

Listen to former House Ag Committee Chairman Larry Combest talk about food prices this Thanksgiving.
 
"Now that grain and energy prices have been sliced in half, surely we can expect that the grocery manufacturers will pass on these savings to American consumers who are suffering economic hardship," the Senator mused.
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About once a year "20/20" reporter John Stossel produces a piece about the evils of farm policy. None of the material is groundbreaking—he uses the same talking points that have been regurgitated by farm opponents for years. And like most professional farm critics, Stossel's story is full of holes and keeps changing.

In his 2007 farm-bashing story, Stossel said U.S. farm policies hurt farmers in poor, developing countries. He was talking about the notion that U.S. farm policies depress crop prices—a common soundbite used by people opposing the farm bill.
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The "farm bill" might sound like a piece of legislation that deals strictly with agricultural policy, but it is far from narrowly focused. Every month, Farm Policy Facts will dissect a title of the bill to illustrate its breadth and importance to people all over our country - not just farmers.

This month, Title VI, Rural Development Title.

Since 1973, farm bills have included a Rural Development Title. The 2008 farm bill builds on that tradition, addressing a wide range of policy issues affecting rural communities.

Subjects covered by the title include economic planning and development; essential community facilities (such as emergency first responders and healthcare); water, waste disposal, and other infrastructure needs; local value-added agriculture capacity; and modern technology in telecommunications.
[FULL STORY]