U.S. farm policies too often at cross-purposes

• Published in: Tribune - Review / Pittsburgh Tribune - Review
• Main Authors: E.C. Pasour Jr, Rucker, Randal
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greensburg, Pa Tribune-Review Publishing Company 28.09.2007

Politicians claim to be friends of the small "family farmer" but most government payments go to large farms. Half of all U.S. farms receive nothing at all because they don't grow corn, wheat, cotton and other major crops that qualify for commodity payments. The government's involvement in risk management also helps decrease prices. For example, farmers are encouraged to purchase government-subsidized crop insurance, which cost taxpayers $4 billion annually. But many farmers are reluctant to purchase crop insurance because Congress usually can be counted on to provide ad hoc relief when droughts, freezes, floods and other weather-related problems occur. Other programs work at cross-purposes: in this case, an organic certification "cost share" program that provides financial assistance to organic crop and livestock producers. Because organic yields are lower, increases in organic agriculture bring more land into production, reducing wildlife habitat and partly offsetting the effects of CRP.