What Are U.S. Farm Subsidies?

Some Say Corporate Welfare, Others Say National Necessities

Aerial view of tractors harvesting grain.
Sean Gallup / Getty Images

Farm subsidies, also known as agricultural subsidies, are payments and other kinds of support extended by the U.S. federal government to certain farmers and agribusinesses. While some people consider this aide vital to the U.S. economy, others consider the subsidies to be a form of corporate welfare.

The Case for Subsidies

In 1930, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture Historical Archive, nearly 25% of the population—roughly 30,000,000 people—lived on the nation's nearly 6.5 million farms and ranches. The original intent of U.S. farm subsidies was to provide economic stability to farmers during the Great Depression and ensure a steady domestic food supply for Americans.

However, by 2017, the number of people living on farms had dwindled to about 3.4 million and the number of farms just over two million. These data suggest it's more difficult than ever to make a living farming—hence the need for subsidies, according to proponents.

Is Farming a Booming Business?

But just because farming is difficult does not necessarily mean that it isn't profitable. Back in April 2011, when the number of farms was also decreasing, a Washington Post article stated:

"The Agriculture Department projects net farm income of $94.7 billion in 2011, up almost 20 percent over the previous year and the second-best year for farm income since 1976. Indeed, the department notes that the top five earnings years out of the past 30 have occurred since 2004," ("Federal Farm Subsidies Should Be Slashed").

And this data has continued to be encouraging to farmers. Net farm income in 2018 dipped to $66.3 billion, which was significantly below the average set by the years 2008 to 2018 but still managed to be well above what it used to be. Even more recently, though, this income is on an upward trend again. In 2020, net farm income was predicted to increase by $3.1 billion to $96.7 billion.

Yearly Farm Subsidy Payments

The U.S. government presently pays about $25 billion in cash annually to farmers and owners of farmland. Congress typically legislates the number of farm subsidies through five-year farm bills. The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Act), also known as the 2014 Farm Bill, was signed by President Obama on February 7, 2014.

Like its predecessors, the 2014 farm bill was derided as bloated pork-barrel politics by a plethora of Congress members, both liberals, and conservatives, who hail from non-farming communities and states. However, the powerful farm industry lobby and members of Congress from agriculture-heavy states won out. 

Who Benefits Most From Farm Subsidies?

Farm subsidies don't benefit all farms equally. According to the Cato Institute, farmers of corn, soybeans, and wheat receive more than 70% of farm subsidies. These are also usually the largest farms.

While the general public may believe that the majority of subsidies go to helping small family operations, the primary beneficiaries are instead the largest producers of certain commodities:

"Despite the rhetoric of 'preserving the family farm,' the vast majority of farmers do not benefit from federal farm subsidy programs and most of the subsidies go to the largest and most financially secure farm operations. Small commodity farmers qualify for a mere pittance, while producers of meat, fruits, and vegetables are almost completely left out of the subsidy game."

According to the Environmental Working Group, from 1995 through 2016, reports the seven states received the majority of subsidies, nearly 45% of all benefits paid to farmers. Those states and their respective shares of total U.S. farm subsidies were:

  • Texas - 9.6%
  • Iowa - 8.4%
  • Illinois - 6.9%
  • Minnesota - 5.8%
  • Nebraska - 5.7%
  • Kansas - 5.5%
  • North Dakota - 5.3%

Arguments for Ending Farm Subsidies

Representatives on both sides of the aisle—in particular, those concerned with growing federal budget deficits—decry these subsidies as nothing more than corporate giveaways. Even though the 2014 farm bill limits the amount paid to a person who is "actively engaged" in farming to $125,000, in reality, reports the Environmental Working Group, "Large and complex farm organizations have consistently found ways to avoid these limits," ("Farm Subsidy Primer").

Furthermore, many political pundits believe that subsidies actually harm both farmers and consumers. Says Chris Edwards, writing for the blog Downsizing the Federal Government:

"Subsidies inflate land prices in rural America. And the flow of subsidies from Washington hinders farmers from innovating, cutting costs, diversifying their land use, and taking the actions needed to prosper in a competitive global economy," (Edwards 2018).

Even the historically liberal New York Times has called the system a "joke" and a "slush fund." Although writer Mark Bittman advocates for reforming the subsidies, not ending them, his scathing assessment of the system in 2011 still stings today:

 "That the current system is a joke is barely arguable: wealthy growers are paid even in good years, and may receive drought aid when there’s no drought. It’s become so bizarre that some homeowners lucky enough to have bought land that once grew rice now have subsidized lawns. Fortunes have been paid to Fortune 500 companies and even gentlemen farmers like David Rockefeller. Thus even House Speaker Boehner calls the bill a 'slush fund'," (Bittman 2011).

Sources

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White, Deborah. "What Are U.S. Farm Subsidies?" ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/us-farm-subsidies-3325162. White, Deborah. (2021, February 16). What Are U.S. Farm Subsidies? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/us-farm-subsidies-3325162 White, Deborah. "What Are U.S. Farm Subsidies?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/us-farm-subsidies-3325162 (accessed March 19, 2024).