[Hoot Gibson]

Although I agree with 99% of this, some of the subsidies are to increase profits. Yes, they are to also lower the price, but this is also big politics at work.

Increasing income while keeping costs steady will always maximize profits (or minimize losses), depending on the sales price, regardless of whether that additional income is in the form of subsidies or sales. The purpose of government subsidies is not to lower prices but to allow our farmers to compete at a lower price point.

The main objective of subsidies is to allow incumbent politicians to buy votes for their own reelection.