Retooling Farm Policy

摘要

In 2000, federal direct payments to U.S. farmers exceeded $22 billion. Farm groups contend that as much as an extra $117 billion will be needed over the next 10 years to expand current farm programs. Under a new congressional budget proposal, an extra $79 billion would be committed to agriculture: $5.5 billion to address farmers1 income shortfalls in 2001 and $73.5 billion to provide sup- port that could be used whenever needed through 2011.