CONCLUSION

Even a cursory review of the foregoing material should draw the reader's attention to several obvious conclusions:

(1) It is absolutely impossible to reach agreement on what constitutes a "subsidy." Most definitions rest upon a particular philosophical or ideological concept of the Federal Government's role in society. (2) It is equally clear that few, if any, areas of the economy are untouched by subsidy or subsidylike programs.

(3) Subsidies are as old as our Government and long have been used as an acceptable and serviceable, if at times controversial, adjunct to the free enterprise economy.

(4) The condemnation or praise of subsidies as such is academic and unrealistic, without taking their public purposes into account.

(5) There appears to be a basic misunderstanding of the purposes of the agricultural program and of its intent with regard to beneficiaries. In agriculture, the consumer is the primary beneficiary—not only for today, but for tomorrow as well. The programs of the Department of Agriculture are directed towards the securing of a balanced and equitable relationship between the farmer and society as a whole, an abundance of wholesome food products, and a higher standard of living for all Americans.