The Heritage Foundation Papers: Agriculture

U.S. Farm Policy: Subsidizing Poor Health?

The Heritage Foundation - Patrick Johnson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:10:08 EST

The law of unintended consequences holds that even well intentioned policies can have adverse effects.

Seven Reasons to Veto the Farm Bill

The Heritage Foundation - Brian M. Riedl — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:48:33 EST

Since the enactment of the last farm bill in 2002, crop prices and net farm income have more than doubled. Yet the new farm bill would expand the $25 billion farm-subsidy system by raising payment rates and creating new subsidies. President Bush should veto Congress's attempt to increase the budget deficit in order to finance additional farm subsidies.

Help Wanted: Administration Proposes Needed Changes in the H-2A Visa Program

The Heritage Foundation - Diem Nguyen — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:00:06 EST

Reforming work visas for agricultural workers is a pivotal step in fixing the U.S. immigration problem.

Ethanol Loses Ground at U.N. Climate Conference: Congress Should Rethink Energy Bill Mandate

The Heritage Foundation - Nicolas Loris and Alison Acosta Fraser — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:42:33 EST

Ethanol mandates come at a steep price and will not solve energy and environmental problems.

Scrap the Senate Farm Bill and Start Over

The Heritage Foundation - Brian M. Riedl — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:49:01 EST

H.R. 2419 retains an expensive and broken farm susbsidy system.

The Senate Farm Bill: A Missed Opportunity

The Heritage Foundation - Brian M. Riedl — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:32:52 EST

With crop prices soaring, farm incomes setting records, and Congress pledging to reduce the budget deficit, now is an opportune time to reform the bloated and outmoded farm subsidy programs.

Don't Be Fooled: House Farm Bill Weakens Payment Limits

The Heritage Foundation - Brian M. Riedl — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:54:14 EST

If Congress is serious about ending agricultural corporate welfare, it should lower the income cap for subsidies to $200,000, as President Bush proposed, and retain the current payment limits.

Federal Farm Subsidy Programs: How to Discourage Congressional Conflicts of Interest

The Heritage Foundation - Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D. — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:42:24 EST

Members of Congress who receive federal farm subsidies should (1) declare them in annual financial disclosures and recuse themselves from voting on legislation that would directly benefit them financially or (2) agree not to accept them and provide the public with detailed information on family members who will benefit financially from their vote in support of farm subsidies.

How Farm Subsidies Harm Taxpayers, Consumers, and Farmers, Too

The Heritage Foundation - Brian M. Riedl — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:01:01 EST

This year's farm bill debate will test whether Congress is serious about reform or will continue business as usual by pandering to special interests. Congress and President Bush should take a more sensible approach to farm policy this year. Instead of rubberstamping the status quo, they should return to the market-based approach embodied in the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act.

Executive Summary: How Farm Subsidies Harm Taxpayers, Consumers, and Farmers, Too

The Heritage Foundation - Brian M. Riedl — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:57:55 EST

How Farm Subsidies Harm Taxpayers, Consumers, and Farmers, Too