Introduction
A vendor prepares a fruit display at a San Francisco farmers market on June 13, 2012. Congress is wrestling with a sprawling new farm bill that strongly influences what Americans eat, how the food is grown and how much it costs. (Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)
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Congress is debating a new farm bill, a sprawling measure typically enacted every five to seven years that sets broad directions for U.S. agriculture policy. Current proposals would eliminate some hotly debated subsidies that mainly benefit large farmers. But the proposed bills would still provide nearly $1 trillion over the next decade for programs including crop insurance, land and water conservation programs, disaster relief and food aid for the poor. Conservatives say the federal government spends too much on agriculture and advocate major cuts to food aid programs, which they see as runaway entitlements. Liberals oppose cutting food aid, which they say provides crucial help for needy Americans during a slow economic recovery. And many public health advocates want more support for production of healthy crops, such as fruits and vegetables, and for local outlets such as farmers markets that connect people directly to food producers.
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Farm Income and Agricultural Prices |
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Aug. 10, 2012 |
Farm Policy |
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Mar. 04, 1959 |
Farm Surpluses and Food Needs |
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Jul. 18, 1956 |
Problem of Farm Surpluses |
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Nov. 09, 1955 |
Farm Prices and Farm Income |
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Oct. 27, 1953 |
Farm Price Supports |
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Apr. 21, 1948 |
Price Supports for Farm Products |
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Nov. 25, 1938 |
Farm Prices and Farmers' Income |
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Dec. 24, 1930 |
Farm Income and Business Recovery |
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Nov. 08, 1930 |
The Problem of Farm Taxation |
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Jul. 08, 1929 |
The Farmers and the Tariff |
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Jul. 30, 1924 |
Causes and Effects of Rising Agricultural Prices |
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