This book serves as a foundational reference of U.S. land settlement and early agricultural policy, a comprehensive journey through the evolution of 20th century agricultural policy, and a detailed guide to the key agricultural policy issues of the early 21st century. This book integrates the legal, economic and political concepts and ideas that guided U.S. agricultural policy from colonial settlement to the 21st century, and it applies those concepts to the policy issues agriculture will face over the next generation. The book is organized into three sections. Section one introduces the main themes of the book, explores the pre-Columbian period and early European settlement, and traces the first 150 years of U.S. agricultural policy starting with the post revolution period and ending with the “golden age” of agriculture in the early 20 th century. Section two outlines that grand bargain of the 1930s that initiated the modern era of government intervention into agricultural markets and traces this policy evolution to the early days of the 21 st century. The third section provides an in-depth examination of six policy issues that dominate current policy discussions and will impact policy decisions for the next generation: trade, environment/conservation, commodity checkoff programs, crop insurance, biofuels, and domestic nutrition programs. Review “In this book, Mercier and Halbrook provide an insiders’ view of the agricultural policy-making process, including viewpoints that will be historically important.” (James L. Novak, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Auburn University) “Today's agricultural policy students need an up-to-date, well-written text that explains the basics. Mercier and Halbrook have delivered it.” (Barry Flinchbaugh, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University) “As a member of the House or Senate Agriculture Committees for 40 years, and Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee for two recent Farm Bills, I found this book to be both an enlightening and enjoyable read. The authors bring their years of being on the inside of agricultural policy development and implementation to life through their insightful writing.” (Tom Harkin, Former Senator, D-Iowa) From the Back Cover This book serves as a foundational reference of U.S. land settlement and early agricultural policy, a comprehensive journey through the evolution of 20th century agricultural policy, and a detailed guide to the key agricultural policy issues of the early 21st century. This book integrates the legal, economic and political concepts and ideas that guided U.S. agricultural policy from colonial settlement to the 21st century, and it applies those concepts to the policy issues agriculture will face over the next generation.The book is organized into three sections. Section one introduces the main themes of the book, explores the pre-Columbian period and early European settlement, and traces the first 150 years of U.S. agricultural policy starting with the post revolution period and ending with the “golden age” of agriculture in the early 20 th century. Section two outlines that grand bargain of the 1930s that initiated the modern era of government intervention into agricultural markets and traces this policy evolution to the early days of the 21 st century. The third section provides an in-depth examination of six policy issues that dominate current policy discussions and will impact policy decisions for the next generation: trade, environment/conservation, commodity checkoff programs, crop insurance, biofuels, and domestic nutrition programs. About the Author Stephanie A. Mercier is Senior Policy Adviser at the Farm Journal Foundation, USA. From 1997 to 2011, she served as a chief economist for the Democratic staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Previously, she served as team leader for the Trade Policy and Pr
