OpEd on the environmental troubles with the farm bill

Writing in the New York Times, Matt Hertsgaard, editorializes on the major shortcomings of the current farm bill that's working its way through the US Congress.  Noting that it is essentially a de-facto climate bill, it's sending all the wrong messages about how the US is addressing climate change by maintaining energy intensive agriculture, providing more crop insurance (which given climate change will surely be paid out at the taxpayer's expense), but not inducing farmers to modify their behaviors which will improve quality and, in the long run, reduce costs.

What do you think?  We're going to talk about this one at our Friday night dinner party!