Issues in Agricultural Policy: Mandatory Production Controls

摘要

Mandatory restrictions on agricultural production continue to be suggested as an alternative policy for reducing price-depressing surplus production, increasing farm income, and cutting farm program costs. A mandatory production control program, as with any farm program, would result in tradeoffs between various sectors of the economy. The concept of mandatory production controls was rejected during the debate over the 1985 Food Security Act. However, high costs of the 1985 Act, continued financial stress for some farmers, and limited expansion of exports have renewed interest in revising the current law to include mandatory restrictions. Such restrictions would benefit certain sectors of the economy but hurt others.