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The Changing Focus Of Government Regulation Of Agriculture In The United States, J.W. Looney

Mercer Law Review

Agriculture, broadly defined, is the country's largest industry. Fully one-fourth of the work force is involved in agricultural production, processing and manufacturing, and in the marketing and distribution of agricultural products. Agriculture's contribution to the Gross National Product is at least twenty percent of the total. Agriculture is a highly regulated industry. For example, it has been estimated that to bring an ordinary product such as the hamburger to the American consumer almost 300 statutory programs are involved. The cost of regulation for a pound of Thanksgiving turkey could be as high as fifteen cents.2 And, for highly processed products …