1.   -- Rising crop prices boosted farm income.

2.   Administration officials said that it was nonetheless sufficient, citing increases in livestock and crop prices in recent months that eased what had been a crisis for many farmers.

3.   By upsetting traditional weather patterns, El Nino can disrupt agricultural harvests, sending crop prices soaring.

4.   By the same token, grain dealers, bakeries and other corporate customers often buy grain futures to hedge against the risk of rising crop prices.

5.   Credit has dried up, crop prices have collapsed, and the cost of everything from seed to fertilizer has skyrocketed.

6.   Critics said the bill guarantees low crop prices because of high production.

7.   Currently, the USDA supports farmers by providing deficiency payments when crop prices are low.

8.   Economically, the program seeks to provide villagers with greater access to loans and jobs as well as updates on crop prices and weather.

9.   Economists deride as inefficient these subsidies that pay farmers not to plant some fields, lends money to plant other fields and underwrites farmers when crop prices are low.

10.   Driven largely by low crop prices, high production costs and weather delays, Texans have reduced their rice planting.