- - AGRICULTURE CORE CURRICULUM - -

(CLF1000)  Advanced Core Cluster:  agricultural business Management 

  (CLF1851)  Unit Title: Government Agencies and Services

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  (CLF1851)  Introduction to Government             Time               Year(s)
             Services                             1 Hour                 1    
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           Topic Objectives:  Upon completion of this lesson the student will 
                              be able to:

           Learning Outcomes: 

               (D-1)  Identify and describe the primary agencies involved in 
                      agriculture and the services they provide.

           Special Materials and Equipment:

           References:  Robinson, Kenneth L. (1989).  FARM FOOD POLICIES AND 
                          THEIR CONSEQUENCES.  New York: Prentice-Hall.

           Resources:   Looney, J. W. (1989).  FARMER'S GUIDE TO GOVERNMENT 
                          AGENCIES.  Available from: Doane Information 
                          Services, 11701 Bormn Drive, St. Louis, MO  63146

           Evaluation:

TOPIC PRESENATION:  Introduction to Government Agencies

A.  Introduction to Government Agencies

    1.  Government agencies serves agriculture through:

        a.  Regulation

        b.  Price stabilization and provision of credit.

        c.  Support to research, teaching, and information disemination of 
            workers.

        d.  Protection

    2.  Since the 1930's, government intervention has been a major influence 
        in U.S. agriculture.

B.  Government Intervention

    1.  Approximately 50% of the total value of agricultural output in the 
        U.S. receives significant support or protection from the federal 
        government.

        a.  Wheat, corn, cotton, rice, tobacco, peanuts, wool, sugar, and 
            dairy products are supported in some way.

        b.  Fruits, vegetables, and livestock are not supported or only 
            indirectly or intermittently supported.
    2.  Government intervention is sometimes necessary because it is too risky 
        to allow the economic market to determine the amount of food that is 
        produced.

    3.  Two types of production problems can exist:

        a.  Too little food produced, which is a problem for the consumer.

        b.  Too much food produced, which is a problem for the farmer.

    4.  Historically, government intervention has come in response to a 
        crisis.

        a.  The decision to intervene is usually made when enough farmers are 
            in trouble that a private problem becomes a public one.

        b.  Once the crisis has passed, the intervention continues.

        c.  Agriculture then becomes dependent on the support.

    5.  Three major problems of farmers have resulted in government 
        intervention:

        a.  Income problems (help is given to farmers so they can achieve
            income levels comparable to urban workers)

        b.  Instability problems (intervention removes wide flucuations in
            prices and income)

        c.  Structural problems (intervention attempts to prevent small family
            farms being incorporated into larger ones)

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        Activity:

        1.  Discuss agricultural problems related to income, instability, or
            structure that could trigger government intervention.
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12/12/91  MH/sg


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