When Congress passed the 1996 Farm Bill, many agricultural reports gave the impression that U.S. agriculture would be spared further federal cutbacks. It is true that the ag producers have signed seven-year production flexibility conw1cts (PFCs) with the U.S. government. The contracts do stipulate a declining flow of income suppon payments. However, there is no guarantee that the agricultural sector will not suffer further budget reductions. Legislators and other policymakcrs from agricultural states arc still defending agriculture (rom proposed budget cuts.