§7313 Comprehensive review of past and future of production agriculture

Summary

The Commission must do a full review of how production agriculture in the United States has changed since April 4, 1996, and how much those changes are because of this law. The review must look at eight areas: whether production flexibility contracts worked to help farms; economic risks by farm size and region; U.S. food security (trade, consumer prices, world competitiveness, supplies, and humanitarian relief); changes in farmland values and farm incomes since April 4, 1996; what regulatory relief has been made and whether cost/benefit was used; tax relief such as capital gains reductions, estate tax exemptions, and income averaging; effects of federal interference in export markets and the success of trade agreements and export programs; and the likely effect of selling, leasing, or moving peanut poundage quota across State lines. The Commission must also review the future of production agriculture and the proper role of the Federal Government. That review must update the earlier findings, identify the right federal-farm relationship after 2002, assess USDA personnel and infrastructure needs, and reassess economic risks by farm size and region. While doing this later review, the Commission must make specific recommendations for laws to achieve the appropriate future relationship identified under subsection (a)(2).