There's lots of news coverage about the farm bill passed by both houses of Congress in veto-proof majorities. The agriculture policy blog, Mulch, this week shined light on a provision in the legislation creating a new exemption to the Freedom of Information Act.

The provision prohibits the disclosure of certain information provided by farmers who are applying for farm subsidies. A federal appeals court in February ordered such data released, Mulch reports, but this provision negates that ruling.

Farm subsidies have long been hot topics in agriculture. In Utah, such famously not-so-needy farmers as Larry H. Miller have received farm subsidies. The appellate ruling might have given public access to Miller's application and told us why he thought he deserved government aid.

"There are bureaucrats who feel this is something that should be kept private and there are a lot of farmers who feel that way," Ken Cook, Mulch's lead writer, told me in an interview.

Lots of other applications for government grants and aid are public records.

-- nc

Labels: FOIA