I know we all think that the $20B to $30B each year in farm subsidies is intended to put money in the pockets of farmers for either growing or not growing foodstuffs. But as I sit here on this hot Sunday I cannot help but shake the idea that the reason the agricultural lobby is so strong is because it controls lots and lots and lots and lots of valuable water rights (and gets water subsidies). I think this would make for an interesting research topic (i.e. students in my 238W class will have fun learning more about this).