Kent Conrad: “one of the most frequently heard criticisms of Federal farm programs is that farmers are paid not to farm, not to plant…”

“one of the most frequently heard criticisms of Federal farm programs is that farmers are paid not to farm, not to plant anything. Mr. President, that has not been the case under recent farm law. But if the Dorgan amendment does not pass, it will become the case. In fact, we will have circumstances in which farmers will be paid not to plant, not to farm, not to produce. Mr. President, I do not think there will be much support in the United States for a program that pays people not to do something, not to do anything. So I hope my colleagues will favor this amendment and vote for it.”