Farmers around the world, Australia included, have been protesting these subsidies for decades because they create an uneven playing field when competing in world markets. As such there was great interest from FarmOnline readers when President Obama announced his intentions earlier this week.

Traditionally such ideas are mooted by willing Presidents trying to come to grips with the extreme levels of US Government debt.

It sparks hope around the globe that such changes may even be the breakthrough needed for the World Trade Organisation talks to finally succeed.

But inevitably the proposals are bogged down in back-room negotiations on Capitol Hill, where the powerful US farm lobby exerts its influence among rural representatives.

Unlike Australia, US politicians are free to vote by their conscience, and not by party lines. This gives each member the power to "ear mark" legislation, adding on amendments, caveats, and loopholes. These concessions, often expensive and often unrelated to the legislation at hand, are the price Presidents pay for having just the general thrust of their ambition realised.

And so the sceptics would say the same battles are ahead for Obama in trying to convince Republican and Democrat Congressman and Senators that there needs to be reform of the farm subsidy system.

But there are two factors in his favour which may see him succeed where others have failed.

First is his incredible popularity and the wave of goodwill he is enjoying from the Democratic Party. This means many Democrat Senators and Congressman may vote with their President and against their constituents - who are no doubt unhappy about losing their handouts - simply because they have the political capital to do so. There are no elections around the corner - if tough decisions are to be made, now is the time to make them.