When Congress passed the 1996 Farm Bill, many agricultural reports gave the impression that U.S. agriculture would be spared further federal cutbacks. It is true that the ag producers have signed seven-year production flexibility conw1cts (PFCs) with the U.S. government. The contracts do stipulate a declining flow of income suppon payments. However, there is no guarantee that the agricultural sector will not suffer further budget reductions. Legislators and other policymakcrs from agricultural states arc still defending agriculture (rom proposed budget cuts.

Judith Pim is manager of CARD's Communication and Information Division. She came to CARD in 1985 to edit research publications, write and edit newsletters, and provide organizational assistance for CARD's outreach activities. Initially she had a dual appointment as CARD editor and NCRCRD (North Central Regional Center for Rural Development) editor.

The People's Republic of China has requested- and will likely soon be granted- membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Given the size and importance of China's economy to the intemational market. both U.S. agricultural and nonagricultural markets will undoubtedly be a fleet ed significantly.

In recent years some prognosticators envisioned that the amount of acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) would shift from west to east. This expectation is based on a perceived increase in the social valuation for water quality versus other CRP benefits. Some west-to-east shifts did occur after CRP rules were revised under the 1990 Farm Bill. However. the latest sign-up results reveal the opposite- an east-to-west movement.