Agriculture

A 2007 report that the federal government had paid $1.1 billion in subsidies to dead farmers sparked an outcry and has been frequently cited by critics who considered the payments a blatant example of wasteful spending. But a follow-up that found no fraud and determined nearly all the subsidies paid on behalf of dead farmers in recent years were proper has received little attention.
China, the world's biggest soybean importer and consumer, has signed 21 purchasing agreements in Chicago over the past two days for U.S. supplies valued at $6.68 billion, the U.S. Soybean Export Council said.
Farmers call for spending cuts, can't agree where
The nation's biggest farm lobbying group supports a balanced budget. It's against tax increases and says the federal government needs to tighten its belt.