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Areas of Focus

Areas of Focus

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Top Economists Say Crop Insurance Reform is a No-Brainer

Two of the nation's leading agricultural economists say federal crop insurance is greatly over-subsidized, adding yet another authoritative voice to those calling for reform.

A Bitter Harvest for Democrats

Many of the Democrats who lost their seats this week voted for the 2014 farm bill – only to see farm groups donate to their Republican opponents.

We Told You So

A new analysis by economists at Ohio State University and the University of Illinois concludes that lavish subsidy programs created in the 2014 farm bill could cost taxpayers billions more than...

Corn Prices Fall, Your Wallet Gets Lighter

This week, the Department of Agriculture predicted that the 2014-2015 U.S. corn harvest will be the largest ever. Because of policies that Congress adopted in the 2014 farm bill, that could also mean...

Cutting Crop Insurance Subsidies Won't Scare Away Farmers

From 2003 through 2012, crop insurance premium subsidies cost taxpayers $42.1 billion – 72 percent of the federal crop insurance program's total costs. If Congress had paid attention when it had the...

Report Highlights Corn Ethanol’s Devastating Toll

Corn-based ethanol is a major cause of the water pollution that is ravaging the Mississippi River basin and the Gulf of Mexico, a report by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) inspector...

Down on the Farm: Where Toledo’s Water Crisis Began

For nearly 70 years, the USDA has relied mostly on voluntary conservation programs that allow farmers to decide for themselves whether or not to use basic conservation measures to prevent runoff from...

We Called It: Low Prices will lead to Big Payouts

Big agriculture payouts could be coming, courtesy of American taxpayers, who are forking over money through lavish new subsidy programs established in the recently passed farm bill.

Right to Farm is a Right to Pollute

Next Tuesday (Aug. 5), Missourians will decide if their state constitution should be amended to enshrine a so-called “Right-to-Farm” provision. The vaguely worded and open-ended amendment states, “the...

The Most Environmentally Harmful Thing You Eat

Believe it or not, choosing between a burger and a chicken sandwich can affect more than just your waistline. A new study led by scientists at Bard College in New York shows that going for beef has 10...

Another Chance to Rein In Unlimited, Secret Crop Insurance Subsidies

When U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual spending bill comes up for action again in the House and Senate next month, Congress may finally get a chance to rein in unlimited, secret subsidies to...

Why Is Feeding Hungry People “Cheating” But Farm Subsidy Abuse Is… Fine?

The USDA Inspector General's audit, released earlier this month, found that the heavily-subsidized crop insurance program suffered from an error rate for improper payments of at least 5.23 percent...

Happy Tax Day! Do You Know How You’re Subsidizing Big Ag This Year?

As Americans finish up their taxes, it's worth reflecting on how those tax dollars are being spent to widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots in farming.

Now that It’s Law, Farm Bill’s True Price Tag Continues To Grow

One new program in the recently enacted farm bill is going to cost at least $21 billion more than we'd bargained for, according to a report just issued by the authoritative Farm and Agriculture Policy...

A “Fiscal Conservative” Shows His True Colors

You might be surprised to learn that a Congressman who considers himself a fiscal conservative and says one of his missions is to provide prudent fiscal management supported a bill that will cost $1...

Obama Wants To Cut $14 Billion In Excess Crop Insurance Subsidies

President Obama and Environmental Working Group agree: to reduce wasteful spending, Congress should cut back on egregiously high crop insurance subsidies.

Falling Crop Prices Mean Big Payouts

The bait-and-switch pulled off by the agriculture committees of Congress in the 2014 farm bill – using 80 percent of the savings from ending direct and countercyclical farm subsidies to gin up a suite...

These are Fiscal Conservatives?

The nearly $1 trillion farm bill couldn't have passed Congress without the support of self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives.

What Others are Saying About the Farm Bill

The farm bill passed by Congress takes food and farm policy in the wrong direction. Here's what others have to say about the bill.

Top Six Reasons EWG Opposes the Farm Bill

The farm bill that passed the House this week and will likely pass the Senate next week has some positive features, including new conservation requirements for farm businesses that collect crop...

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