The law also provides for other subsidies, including disaster payments, but sets a total limit of $250,000 a person on all payments.

"Based on my discussions with people in authority, they indicate they would prefer insurance to disaster payments," he said.

The changes are aimed at ending the practice of many farmers who decline to buy insurance but collect the disaster payments routinely provided by Congress.

They put a greater priority on plane tickets than disaster payments.

For example, disaster payments could be restricted to events that cause damage exceeding a specified threshold or significant loss of life.

The House bill would also be more restrictive than the Senate on disaster payments for livestock feed programs.

"They don't care about insurance if they think they are going to get a disaster payment."

Most important, disaster payments would be gradually eliminated.

From 1974 to 1980 farmers received $3 billion in disaster payments.

For example, our specific proposals include the introduction of a system of disaster payments, which is already the practice in other great agricultural nations.