Bill Ayers speaks out! An In These Times exclusive.

King of the Crop

Two years ago the federal government spent $9.4 billion to promote corn production, driving small farmers off their lands in Mexico, because they were unable to compete with U.S. imports

By Ben Terrall

Two buddies from Yale trek to northern Iowa, buy an acre of farmland, start growing corn and make a documentary about the experience. Sound like a trite tale of East Coasters playing Midwest farmers? It could be, if not for the filmmakers’ sincerity and their message in the new movie, King Corn. Director and producer Aaron Wolf follows the two… return to article

  • subscribe to print magazine

  • Zoom OutZoom In Reader Comments (4)

    Page 1 of 1 pages

    The inner part.

    The inner light
    and the beautiful
    and tender narrator
    invent a mutable
    moment, when
    Christmas arrives;
    I see a blackbird
    singing the birth
    of an ancient era,
    the time of my
    life, the care and
    the reason.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Dec 22, 2007 at 1:43 PM

    Prudence and the melody.

    Arbours coloured
    by a soft September
    breeze delay in
    the sunshine of a
    beautiful morning,
    and a loving
    profile presents,
    in a moment, the
    taste of a dream.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Dec 29, 2007 at 1:42 PM

    “This oversupply helps explain why, in 2000, U.S. residents consumed an average of 73.5 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup (up from 0.6 pounds yearly in 1970).”

    The main reason for the high consumption of high fructose corn syrup in the U.S. is the federal government’s tribute to the sugar industry: billions of dollars in annual subsidies and protectionist import tariffs that prevent cheaper sugar from entering the country.

    United States Posted by JT_Lancer on Dec 30, 2007 at 4:48 PM

    A flying and gentle sparrow.

    When the last
    lights of a sunrise
    disappear behind
    a melody I hear
    the song of
    a beautiful sparrow,
    the sound of a
    rank and the rising
    beginning now
    reflecting the pain.

    Francesco Sinibaldi

    Italy Posted by Sinibaldi on Jan 5, 2008 at 1:44 PM
    Page 1 of 1 pages
  • register a new account »Posting Security

    To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.
Also by Ben Terrall
  • Punk Manifesto
  • King of the Crop
    Two years ago the federal government spent $9.4 billion to promote corn production, driving small farmers off their lands in Mexico, because they were unable to compete with U.S. imports
  • Funding Indonesia’s Abusive Military
    Despite numerous human rights abuses, the United States continues to pump money into the Indonesian military under the guise of the war on terror
  • Brothers in Arms
    The United States moves a step closer to restoring military aid to Indonesia, despite its massive human rights abuses
  • Democracy’s Death
    Haitian dissidents find themselves the targets of massive repression
Popular Discussions