Agriculture: Prospective Issues for the 107th Congress (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Jan. 29, 2001 |
| Report Number |
RS20765 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Jean Yavis Jones, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Persistent low farm prices and 3 years of multi-billion dollar ad hoc additions to federal spending for farmers are expected to put pressure on the 107th Congress for an early review of federal farm policy. Farm policy is governed by a variety of laws, many of which are incorporated into an omnibus, multi-year farm bill. Most of the provisions of the current farm bill, the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996, expire after the 2002 crop year. Key issues are the responsiveness of current policy to low commodity prices and farm income, factors influencing low prices, and options for improving prices and/or providing automatic relief to farmers when prices fall. Increased concentration in the agriculture industry, trade, and environmental regulations affecting agriculture are likely to be part of the debate.
