Evaluation of Agricultural Policy Reforms in the United States

This study analyses and evaluates US agricultural policies, focusing on the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, in the context of developments in agricultural policy that have taken place in the United States since 1985. This study also discusses several emerging issues and challenges for US agricultural policies, and offers key policy recommendations.



The United States is one of the most important agricultural producers in the world. It has a very large domestic market and is the world’s largest exporter of agricultural products. Indeed, the share of US agricultural production exported is more than double that of any other US industry and the trade surplus in agricultural products acts as an important stimulus to the US economy. Thus, US agricultural policies exert a strong influence on world agricultural markets.

The United States maintains an array of agricultural policies with goals that range from the traditional objectives of stabilising agricultural production and supporting farm income to those that have more recently increased in importance, such as assuring adequate nutrition, securing food safety, encouraging environmental protection and facilitating rural development.

Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chapter 1. The Role of Agriculture in the US Economy
Agriculture in the economy
Farm structures
Farm household incomes and wealth
Developments in farm output, inputs and productivity
Chapter 2. Agricultural Support in the United States
Policy background
Evolution of agricultural support
Chapter 3. Crop Sector Policies
Support policies for “programme” crops under the 2008 Farm Act
Sugar support policies
Chapter 4. Livestock Sector Policies
Policy background0
Dairy support policies
Chapter 5. International Trade Policies9
Policy background0
Export support programmes
Import protection measures
International food aid
Chapter 6. Agri-environmental Policies
Policy background
Evolution of US conservation programmes before the 2008 Farm Act
Conservation provisions in the 2008 Farm Act
Chapter 7. Rural Development Policies
Policy background
Rural development programmes
Rural development provisions under the 2008 Farm Act
Chapter 8. Renewable Energy Policies
Policy background
Major provisions under the 2008 Farm Act
Chapter 9. Domestic Food Assistance Policies
Policy background
Domestic Food Assistance Provisions in the 2008 Farm Act
Chapter 10. Food Safety, Marketing and Other Policies
Food safety
Marketing
Country of origin labelling
Chapter 11. Future Directions for Agricultural Policies
Assessment of policy reform progress since 1985
Some emerging issues and challenges for policy
Key policy recommendations
Annex A. Main Elements of the 1985, 1990, 1996 and 2002 Farm Acts
Annex B. Cotton Support Policies
Annex C. Impact of the Energy Independence Security Act on Biofuels and Crop Markets: Aglink Analysis
Annex D. The OECD Policy Evaluation Model
Annex E. Tables
Bibliography