Farm bill plows under direct payments

[unhappycamper]

http://gazette.com/farm-bill-plows-under-direct-payments/article/feed/84236



Dow Brantley discusses his plans for the upcoming growing season at one of his fields near England, Ark., Friday, Jan. 31, 2014. Farm subsidies that have guided agriculture through record profits in recent years are going away in the five-year farm bill that could become law as soon as next week.

Farm bill plows under direct payments
Associated Press Updated: February 1, 2014 at 12:47 pm • Published: February 1, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A five-year federal farm that could become law in the coming week does away with farm subsidies that have guided agriculture through record profits in recent years.

Gone are direct payments, a politically untenable system that paid landowners a fixed amount per acre, no matter the crop price or even if they planted at all. But farmers aren't complaining, because new subsidies in the legislation could be just as generous.

Under the new bill, direct payments would be replaced a choice of two approaches that require producers to suffer a loss before getting a payout. Cotton farmers also would get a new insurance-based program.