AgricultureAgriculture

Washington wastes billions of taxpayer dollars annually on inefficient and outdated agriculture policies that do not address the realities of 21st-century agriculture, modern economies, or our nation’s current financial challenges. Many of these policies were created in the 1930’s as temporary measures ...More

to combat the Great Depression. Nearly 80 years later, most remain in place even though they fail to meet the needs of America’s farmers, rural communities, consumers, or taxpayers. Federal agricultural policy must be reformed to provide a limited, effective, and efficient safety net for agricultural producers – and to eliminate lavish, poorly-directed subsidies.

Every five years, Congress passes “Farm Bills,” establishing agricultural policies that are driven by politics and narrow concerns, instead of the public interest. For too long, Congress has failed to focus legislation on what should be our number-one priority: the need for a secure domestic food supply.

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All the latest content from TCS in Agriculture
Letters & Testimony

Letter to Congress: Harvest Real Savings by Reforming Agriculture Policy

February 14, 2013

Letter to Congress: Harvest Real Savings by Reforming Agriculture Policy Taxpayers for Common Sense and twelve other fiscal watchdogs sent a letter to Congress urging they harvest real savings in any new farm bill.... Read More

Our Take

Even More Options for Cutting Crop Insurance Costs

February 05, 2013

Even More Options for Cutting Crop Insurance Costs Defenders of agricultural subsidies at all costs are starting to feel the heat. Yesterday, professors from Ohio State University,... Read More

Letters & Testimony

TCS Testifies before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

February 05, 2013

TCS Testifies before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ryan Alexander testified before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee... Read More

Event Summary

TCS Moderates Congressional Briefings on Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard

February 05, 2013

TCS Moderates Congressional Briefings on Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard             February 5, 2013 CONTACTS: Steve Ellis, 202-546-8500 ext... Read More

Our Take

It’s Official: 2012 Drought Cost Taxpayers a Record $14 Billion

January 16, 2013

It’s Official: 2012 Drought Cost Taxpayers a Record $14 Billion This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed what taxpayers have feared for months. After tallying losses from last year’s... Read More

Our Take

Farm Bill Extension Better Than Trillion-Dollar Bill

January 03, 2013

Farm Bill Extension Better Than Trillion-Dollar Bill As we predicted, all the hype about the “dairy cliff” hitting consumers with sky-high milk prices was nothing but a hoax.... Read More

More in-depth material from TCS in Agriculture
Fact Sheets

Crop Insurance Administrative Policy Changes

January 30, 2013

Several administrative changes could be implemented to reduce taxpayer costs and limit the unintended consequences of federal crop insurance. ... Read More

Awards

Golden Fleece Awarded to Risk Management Agency for Risking Taxpayer Dollars

December 13, 2012

Golden Fleece Awarded to Risk Management Agency for Risking Taxpayer Dollars Taxpayers for Common Sense awarded the Golden Fleece to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency for wasting taxpayer funds on risk management education for crops ranging from Christmas trees to turf grass.... Read More

Fact Sheets

Political Power of the Agribusiness and Crop Insurance Lobbies

October 31, 2012

Political Power of the Agribusiness and Crop Insurance Lobbies The so-called Farm Bill currently being negotiated in Congress is shaping up to be another taxpayer-funded handout to wealthy landowners,... Read More

Fact Sheets

Haves and Have-Nots in Federal Crop Insurance

October 31, 2012

Federally subsidized crop insurance has become the largest taxpayer support for agriculture. But not all parts of the agriculture industry... Read More

TCS appearances in the media in Agriculture

Hill Briefing Shreds Renewable Fuel Standard

February 11, 2013 | GlobalWarming.com

This morning I attended a briefing on “The Renewable Fuel Standard: Pitfalls, Challenges, and the Need for Congressional Action in 2013.”... Read More

Fiscal reform needs accountability, less agency overlap

February 11, 2013 | Fierce Government

Government fiscal reform needs to come in the form of accountability, prioritizing by need and training if long term success is to be seen,... Read More

NMMA makes case to Congress on fuel standard

February 11, 2013 | Trade Only Today Magazine

The National Marine Manufacturers Association made its case with several other groups Tuesday to federal lawmakers on the negative impact of... Read More

Farmers, environmentalists await seventh analysis of 60-year-old Mississippi levee plan

February 11, 2013 | The Washington Post

An engineering project introduced during the Eisenhower administration may be carried out during the Obama administration, but with no more... Read More

Analyst warns of RFS threat to US poultry industry

February 07, 2013 | Global Meat News

A US analyst has warned that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is causing the cost of chicken and turkey to rocket, leaving many producers... Read More

Weekly Wastebasket

Our weekly reality-check for federal spending. View All

February 08, 2013

Time for a Farm Bill Redo

While much of Washington is bracing for across-the-board cuts, the Agriculture Committees are looking to... Read More