I&#x27;m actually on your side, i think it&#x27;s ridiculous as well.<p>The logic is that a free market with lean and fat years would result in wild price fluxuations.  When yields were really good, prices would drop and some farmers would end up out of business.  The cartel brings stability to prices.  Each farmer agrees to produce X and in return has confidence they will get Y price.<p>The system undoubtably results in higher prices than a completely free market.