Rowland, C.K. and Mel Dubnick, “Decentralization of Agriculture,” PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE 34 (3) 1982:212-22.
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The document discusses the decentralization of American agriculture, its historical influence on policy, and how it responded to environmental and consumer challenges.
Historical Role of Agriculture in Policy
- Agriculture historically shaped American public policy through land, monetary, tariff, and internal improvement issues.
- Farmers organized politically early to oppose monopolies and public utilities, establishing interest group influence.
- The farm sector’s influence peaked during the 1960s, with a pattern of interest group liberalism.
- Changes in farm policy trends often foreshadow broader domestic policy shifts.
Decentralized Structure of Agriculture
- American agriculture is characterized by market fragmentation and a lack of central control.
- Commodity markets remain diverse, with farmers organized into numerous interest groups based on commodities and geography.
- Public farm programs are designed around commodity-specific and decentralized implementation systems.
- Local committees and agencies, like the USDA’s ASCS, enable farmers to influence policy directly at local levels.
Resilience of Decentralization
- Decentralization allowed farmers to adapt policies to their needs and resist external challenges.
- It helped farmers regain influence after policy setbacks in the 1960s and 1970s.
- The decentralized system facilitated opposition to environmental and consumerist intervenors.
- Local and state agencies, especially in pesticide regulation, maintained significant control despite federal efforts.
Pesticide Regulation and External Challenges
- Post-WWII pesticide use, especially DDT, grew rapidly, with regulation initially weak and dominated by agricultural interests.
- Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in 1963 raised public awareness of pesticide dangers, prompting calls for regulation.
- Early efforts to regulate pesticides faced resistance from agricultural groups and USDA, which prioritized promotion over safety.
- The transfer of pesticide regulation to EPA in 1970 aimed to strengthen environmental oversight but faced implementation challenges.
EPA’s Role and Limitations
- EPA was tasked with regulating pesticides under FEPCA of 1972, aiming for stricter safety standards.
- EPA lacked resources and data, leading to delays and ineffective regulation.
- The pesticide industry and agricultural coalitions exerted influence to limit EPA’s authority.
- EPA’s regulatory process was often compromised by industry and agricultural interests, maintaining pesticide proliferation.
Political and Administrative Responses
- Industry and agricultural groups successfully lobbied to retain control over pesticide regulation.
- Amendments in 1975 and 1978 shifted authority back to states and weakened EPA oversight.
- State agencies, mainly departments of agriculture, gained increased responsibility for pesticide enforcement.
- The decentralization of pesticide regulation reinforced the resilience of the agricultural subsystem against external pressures.