Even if that means a rebalancing in the public interest that challenges the paper's home state's producers.

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

A funny thing happened on the way to the farm bill this year. An obscure, even secretive, process by which Congress sits down every five years or so to divvy up billions of dollars in federal agriculture subsidies has been discovered by an extraordinary assortment of conservationists, nutrition advocates, renewable energy experts and even ecumenical leaders, who realize that federal farm policy affects everything from pollution in the Mississippi River to the control of global warming.

This is not encouraging for Minnesota's corn and soybean farmers, who have benefited hugely from federal subsidies, but it is a good thing for the broader public interest in agriculture policy and the wise use of public subsidies.

Hat tip to Scott Faber of Environmental Defense--for my money, the most effective advocate for reform in this farm bill cycle.