The Evolving Distribution of Payments From Commodity, Conservation, and Federal Crop Insurance Programs

by Jonathan McFadden and Robert A. Hoppe

Changes in the structure of U.S. agriculture have changed the distribution of Government farm payments over time. As agricultural production continues to consolidate, commodity program payments, some conservation program payments, and Federal crop insurance indemnities have shifted to larger farms operated by higher income households. This report details the extent of that shift from 1991 to 2015.

Keywords: Commodity program payments, Federal crop insurance payments, conservation program payments, structural change, Agricultural Resource Management Survey, commodity price changes, risk in agriculture, Agricultural Act of 2014

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