Agriculture Policy Decisions: A 1984 Persepctive from South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers

Federal government policies greatly affect farmers and ranchers. Most South Dakota farmers and ranchers favor changes in the process used to make farm policy decisions but are split on the desirable future direction of farm commodity programs. A majority of producers favor existing or modified loan rate, target price, and farmer owned grain reserve program but are sharply divided on payment-in-kind (PIK) programs. Most producers favor the market growth provided by world trade but are not willing to give up minimum trade barriers, these barriers provide some cushion from the instability caused by international trade system. In addition, farmers are overwhelmingly in favor of Federal deficit reduction policies. These are key findings from a 1984 statewide survey of farmers and ranchers opinions on agriculture policy issues