Farm Safety Net

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the broader farming community often refer to the price and income support programs of the farm bill's Title I and the crop insurance and disaster assistance programs of Title XII as encompassing the farm safety net. Many policy makers and farmers consider federal support of farm businesses necessary for their financial survival, given the unpredictable nature of agricultural production and markets. In contrast, many environmental groups and budget hawks argue that farm subsidies encourage overproduction on environmentally fragile land and are a market-distorting use of tax dollars. This book provides an overview of the current farm safety net programs, proposals and overlap in producer support. Also discussed is the congressional debate that is expected to precede the next round of omnibus farm legislation in 2012 and the budget and policy issues and implications for U.S. farm policy in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO).