US Government payments to agriculture businesses

These are just a few examples of the US Department of Agriculture  subsidies in only eleven states.  Small farmers and large agribusiness are eligible for these sums. The list below explains the different types of subsidies.

STATE	TOTAL SUBSIDIES	TOTAL RECIPIENTS	AVERAGE / RECIPIENT / YEAR
TX	$26,632,723,884	729,226	$36,522
FL	$1,781,488,415	54,588	$32,635
GA	$6,320,550,495	202,736	$31,176
NJ	$196,991,169	7,259	$27,138
WY	$745,239,752	31,612	$23,575
OH	$7,480,604,101	359,320	$20,819
MA	$108,922,544	5,319	$20,478
WI	$6,755,109,332	333,575	$20,251
SC	$1,779,360,299	96,544	$18,431
VA	$1,748,685,456	116,559	$15,003
KY	$3,597,462,678	438,939	$8,196

COTTON SUBSIDIES

The subsidies paid by the US government to its farmers distort the world cotton market, deflate the world price and enable the US to sell its cotton cheap. Despite being relatively inefficient producers, the US is the largest exporter of cotton. This makes it impossible for efficient producers in Africa and other poor countries to compete on equal terms. A number of developing countries have been calling on the US to reform its subsidy programme. The World Trade Organisation has twice ruled that the US subsidies are illegal – contravening world trade rules – but the US has failed to act.

AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Weather variability is one of the largest sources of risk in agricultural production. Congress has recognized the impact of weather variability on crop production and the resulting variability to farm income by implementing a special tax provision.

Code Section 451(d) provides that, under certain circumstances, crop producers reporting on the cash method of accounting may elect to include crop insurance and disaster payments in income of the tax year following the taxable year of crop destruction or damage. To qualify for this election, the taxpayer must establish that the income from the destroyed or damaged crop would have been included in income for a taxable year following the year of destruction or damage under his or her normal business practices.

Additionally, crop disaster program payments received from the federal government qualify for Code Section 451(d) election if a natural disaster prevented a farmer from planting crops, or it destroyed or damaged crops that had already been planted.

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a land conservation program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are 10-15 years in length. The long-term goal of the program is to re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.

FARM SUBSIDIES

What are farm subsidies?

Farm subsidies are payments made and other support extended by the U.S. federal government to certain farmers and agribusinesses. Farm subsidies are also known as agricultural subsidies.

The original intent of U.S. farm subsidies was to provide economic stability to farmers during the Depression to ensure a steady domestic food supply for Americans.

LIVESTOCK SUBSIDIES

Livestock compensation program

Emergency livestock feed assistance

Livestock forage disaster program

Livestock indemnity payments

Livestock emergency assistance program

Cattle feed program -non-fat milk

Small hog operation

American Indian livestock feed program

Livestock relief

Emergency feed train donation

Livestock indemnity-contract growers

Livestock indemnity program - authorization

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

Promotes agricultural production, forest management, and environmental quality as compatible national goals and optimizes environmental benefits on eligible land with farmers, ranchers, and non-industrial private forest land owners. It is a voluntary program using partnerships with local, State, Tribal and Federal agencies, producer associations, and nonprofit organizations to provide flexible technical and financial assistance to install and maintain conservation practices include those related to organic production, that sustain food and fiber production. The purpose of this program is achieved through the implementation of structural, vegetative, and land management practices on eligible land. This program is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). NRCS provides overall program administration and management.