In recent years, several OECD studies have looked at income issues in the agricultural sector. This synthesis combines and updates material from recently published reports to produce a comprehensive study of farm household income issues in OECD countries. The background is one of significant government intervention in the agricultural sectors of many OECD countries that has led to high levels of support and protection, often justified in terms of a need to support the incomes of farmers and their families. This synthesis first presents income objectives in OECD countries and discusses measurement problems. Without attempting cross-country comparisons, it then reviews the income situation of farm households in OECD countries for which data are available, and examines the role which agricultural policies, whatever their objectives, have played in determining the observed outcomes. Finally, policy solutions are proposed that would improve farm household income more effectively and equitably.