The amended farm bill limits crop switches.

President Reagan signed the Food Security Improvement Act, amending the nation’s basic farm bill passed last December. The crop limitation was sought by California farm interests who feared that cotton farmers choosing to take land out of production to qualify for federal subsidies might switch to other crops, creating a surge of new competition that could depress prices. The provision protects growers of beans, potatoes, vegetables and other non-subsidy crops. The bill also boosts fees on dairy farmers to meet deficit-reduction targets under the Gramm-Rudman Act.