An Economic Evaluation of Alternative Peanut Policies

Three alternatives to the current peanut‐price support, acreage‐allotment program are considered. A linear programming framework is used to compare the effects of these policies on geographic location of peanut production, producer and consumer surplus, treasury costs, and value of allotments. Peanut production would expand in all areas except Texas under less restrictive production constraints. The largest expansion would be in Georgia and Alabama. Some version of the target price plan is considered to be a likely compromise program.