EU farm ministers mull farm subsidy reforms

As thousands of farmers protested vehemently outside, European Union agriculture ministers mulled changes Wednesday to the EU’s ?53 billion ($67 billion) farm support program.

The EU spends about 40 percent of its budget supporting 13 million farmers who make up less than 3 percent of its population. Yet the farm ministers in the 27-nation bloc are under strong pressure from lawmakers and farmers who want continued aid and subsidies.