How To Talk About Agriculture

How To Talk About…
AGRICULTURE

FREE MARKETS,
NOT CENTRAL PLANNING


  • Agricultural policy should benefit all Americans, from the farmers who produce the food to the consumers who purchase it.
  • U.S. agricultural policy should reflect the same free-market principles that have promoted prosperity and freedom for this nation.

BEYOND A “SAFETY NET”


  • Current policy goes far beyond providing a safety net to farmers. It tries to ensure that farmers are profitable, not just protected from serious, unexpected losses. Even minor dips in expected revenue can trigger payments from the government.

FARMERS CAN MANAGE THEIR OWN RISK


  • Farmers can manage risk in many ways, from crop diversification to using the commodities market. They can and should use private solutions to manage the risk of running farms just like other businesses do.
  • Agricultural subsidies create numerous problems, including crowding out private solutions.

POLICY PROPOSALS


  1. Repeal the agricultural risk coverage and price loss coverage programs.
  2. Seek private, market-based solutions to risk management.
  3. Allow sugar to compete in a free market.
  4. Eliminate federal mandates on food options and menu labeling.
  5. Oppose the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered food.
  6. Free agricultural trade from intervention.
  7. Separate food stamps from agricultural programs.

QUICK FACTS


  1. In 2014, average farm household income was $131,754 compared to the average U.S. household income of $75,738, an incredible 74 percent difference.
  2. In 2012, farms with annual sales greater than$250,000 represented only 12 percent of all farms but accounted for 89 percent of all agricultural sales.

Go back to the main list of “Pocket Solutions.“

Click here for more in-depth details and information provided by the Heritage Foundation.