[kwhitefoot]

That's not the only reason for Norwegian farming policy. Another is to ensure that non-industrial areas and areas where it is simply difficult to live do not become entirely depopulated. I live and work and pay tax in Norway and I am quite happy with the basic principle that the country should produce most of its own food; it helps to reduce the tendency to race to the bottom of the market and, if done well, promotes pride in quality. Of course it is not easy to export the Norwegian experience to a much larger country like the US with a different political system and much higher concentration of ownership of the farms and also difficult to export it to a smaller much more densely populated country like the UK. But that doesn't mean it wouldn't be worth trying to learn from it.

Don't mistake me, I'm not claiming that Norwegian farming policy is perfect, merely that it does seem to work at the moment.