R Street Institute

Policy Studies Agriculture

How to get the most out of the 2018 farm bill

by Caroline Kitchens
Sept 17, 2019
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Key Points

Through the farm bill, taxpayers spend billions on programs designed to protect public goods like healthy air and soil.
A commitment to conservation is compatible with conservative ideology, but market forces must be harnessed effectively and oversight must be enhanced to ensure that taxpayers are getting a good return on investment.
Evidence shows that conservation programs lack accountability and are not being implemented effectively. Stronger enforcement mechanisms and better oversight are needed to ensure that conservation programs are achieving their intended result.

Through the farm bill, taxpayers spend billions on programs designed to protect vital public goods like natural wetlands and healthy air and soil. However, without better information and effective oversight mechanisms, we cannot be sure these expenditures provide valuable returns to the public.

Press release: R Street Institute Policy Short: How to get the most out of the 2018 farm bill

Image credit: Fotokostic

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