Net result [of the Dept. of Agriculture's Payment in Kind…
![“Net result [of the Dept. of Agriculture's Payment in Kind - PIK - program]: total farm income, now expected to be around $25 billion, this fiscal year, will exceed total federal subsidies by only a couple of billion. You could argue that those fellows out there on the fruited plain are in effect…” quote by Daniel Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/b77/daniel-seligman-65571_administration_net-result-of-the-dept-of-agriculture-s_1757219.jpg)
“Net result [of the Dept. of Agriculture's Payment in Kind - PIK - program]: total farm income, now expected to be around $25 billion, this fiscal year, will exceed total federal subsidies by only a couple of billion. You could argue that those fellows out there on the fruited plain are in effect working for the federal government and that, therefore, the U.S. now has socialized agriculture under the Reagan Administration. Rich, eh?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The payment-in-kind program shifted farm income to resemble government wages, effectively socializing agriculture under Reagan.
In simple terms: PIK made farms act like government employees.
Key Takeaway
Recognize policy impacts on market dynamics.
Themes
agricultural policy
government subsidies
economic ideology
socialism
Reagan era
Mood
critical
analytical
skeptical
Type
policy
economic
historical
When to use this quote
- farm budgeting
- legislative debate
- public opinion
- economic forecasting
Key Concepts
public economics
policy analysis
market distortion
Questions to Reflect On
- How does government support alter farmer independence?
- Are such subsidies sustainable?
A Different Perspective
The program's benefits may be overstated without considering long‑term market effects.