This Edition: “Setting the Stage for the Next Farm Bill”
“Choices” is an online magazine published by the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) for readers interested in the policy and management of agriculture, the food industry, natural resources, rural communities, and the environment. Online subscriptions are free of charge.
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The latest edition of “Choices” includes a group of articles on “Setting the Stage for the Next Farm Bill:” They include:
Introduction: Setting the Stage for the Next Farm Bill: No Easy Choices
The economic and political environment for debating and writing the 2007 Farm Bill has changed significantly since the 2002 Bill was enacted. Concerns over WTO compliance, budget, environment, and renewable fuels will have to be weighted against the goals of farm policy in drafting the next farm bill. Farm program justifications have changed over time so policy makers may also consider if the old justifications are still valid.
Domestic Farm Policy for 2007: Forces for Change
The potential for substantial changes in the structure of the U.S. farm programs exists as policy makers consider the tradeoffs among WTO commitments, budgetary concerns, and a broader array of interest groups and issues to be encompassed in agricultural policy. The prospect of these pressures moving in opposite directions could make for a lively 2007 Farm Bill debate.
What Happens if You Try to Run Current Farm Programs on a Tighter Budget?
As budgetary concerns increase, policy makers are asking, how would agriculture fair with lower payments? Budget savings can come in the form of reductions in direct payments, countercyclical payments, or loan deficiency payments. The impacts of these different payment reductions are examined as to their effects on producer returns, planted acres, prices, and net farm income.
The Evolution of the Rationale for Government Involvement in Agriculture
Many justifications for government involvement in agriculture have been put forward over the past 200 years. As Congress prepares to write a new farm bill, policy analysts need to reexamine the justifications to see if they are still valid or if there are new justifications.
Other articles in this edition include a group of articles on Produce Marketing, Obesity, and Competitive Funding of Ag Research.