The government enacts supply control programs that will cut back on supply and will raise the market price for commodities. They control supply by paying farmers to take land out of production. Another goal of farm policy is to ensure consumers are getting a fair price and a quality product. The US is one of the very few countries that have strict quality control measures. The government regulates many factors throughout the distribution channel, via policy decisions, that ensure the consumer they are getting a quality product every time they sit down at the dinner table.
Policy makers have to consider many factors when determining farm policy.
They must come up with a good balance that will keep farmers in business and give the consumer a fair price for their food. They are low farm income, farms in financial stress, and a decline in farm numbers. Farm income is directly related to commodity prices. As prices vary, so do imcome. Due to prices fluctuating greatly over this period, the government has supported farmers in many ways in order to ensure stable incomes and minimal financial stress.