This book analyzes present and past federal agricultural policies, explaining policy rationale, outlining trends, and suggesting remedies for taxpayer concerns. The book recommends reforms to address problems related to instability, family farm loss, soil conservation, water quality, and costs. Fifteen essays focus on issues like commodity programs, the FARI act, income variability, crop insurance, agribusiness market power, environmental degradation, the WTO agricultural talks, environmental economics, and global pluralism. Contributors include scholars, environmentalists, and officials with the Department of Agriculture. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)