Help us figure out the farm bill

This week a group of agricultural economists met in Kansas City to discuss how they were going to explain the farm bill. Does that sound a little ominous?

In his news story about the meeting, Agriculture Online Business Editor Dan Looker referred to the new bill as one that "may be the most complicated farm program yet."

It has some familiar features, he says, including the old safety net of loan deficiency payments, counter-cyclical payments and direct payments.

But there are some new acronyms in the thing, including ACRE, (average crop revenue election) which you can sign up for next year. There is also SURE (supplemental revenue assistance payments) which becomes the new permanent disaster program for farmers. And there is EQIP, and CSP, and so on.

This week USDA said it will allow producers who would otherwise be ineligible for the new disaster assistance programs to become eligible by paying a fee, so that's another new wrinkle. Earlier, we learned that some deadlines are out of synch with SURE, so that a special signup will be necessary.

Head starting to hurt? There's lots of talkage to process through the grinder of clear understanding.

A new poll and discussion gives you the chance to tell us what you most want to know about the new farm bill. Chip in with your vote and comments here: What part of the farm bill would you most like to learn more about?