A substantial lowering of prices have not reduced the total
acreage of major crops. We were told it should work that way
because government payments that are decoupled from production
should not affect the farmers' decisions of what to plant or if
he should plant anything at all.  Since lower prices have not
cleared away the overproduction problem, shouldn't we be looking
for another solution? Do we really think that the production
side of agriculture can remain disconnected from consumption
needs over the long haul?  Yes, agriculture virtually cannot
adjust production on its own in a timely manner, but is there
another way?  In the present political environment it is clear
that it is unacceptable to talk about the one mechanism that
would balance out production with demand. It is political
suicide to mention the words, “production controls.” But now
that we have broken the taboo, let's talk about production
controls and see if they are all that bad and if, as some
allege, they cause more misallocation of eco