It's an impossibility anyway, because guaranteed profits this year will lead to higher land prices and cash rents next year. Without higher supports each subsequent year, guaranteed profits would soon end. Ultimately, the level of support is a political decision. Members of the U.S. Congress and the federal government's executive branch react collectively to their perceptions of the problem. For many, this comes down to fears of losing too many producers if support levels are inadequate.
Cost is always a factor.
Competition for available dollars can be fierce, even in the best of times. Each dollar spent on agriculture cannot be used to pay down the federal debt, secure Social Security for the long haul or add prescription drugs to Medicare benefits. However, even with record-high spending on agriculture in fiscal year 2000, it amounted to only about 1.5 percent of the federal budget. In addition, it's somewhat easier to appropriate money for hard-pressed producers when a budget surplus exists. The fact is that no one knows whether too much or too little is spent on farm supports.