One of the first and most fundamental changes that must occur when a new presidential administration takes charge in Washington is the reform of the Department of Agriculture.

The Cabinet-level agency with responsibility for farm and food policy has operated during the Bush years as a wholly owned subsidiary of corporate agribusiness. Invariably, when left to its own devices, the department has opted against the interests of working farmers.

Consider the deliberate misinterpretation of the 2008 farm bill, which was enacted by Congress earlier this year over a veto from President Bush.

Bush thought the bill was too generous to working farmers, even though the overwhelming majority of the money that is allocated goes to hunger programs and environmental initiatives.

Congress thought differently.

Congress was right.

Still — as it has done with presidential signing statements in other cases — the Bush administration is seeking to override Congress, and the rule of law, by having the Department of Agriculture interpret a smart provision in the farm bill in a manner that harms some of America’s smallest and hardest-working farmers.

The farm bill provision in question denies support payments and other forms of federal aid to so-called “hobby farms” and to housing developments on former farmland.

This appropriate limitation, which was designed to end past abuses, says that properties of less than 10 “base acres” are not eligible for federal money that is available to larger farms.

But the Department of Agriculture is interpreting the limit in a manner that denies payments to small farmers who own or rent several small parcels of land…

Full Story: http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/307213