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Does Farm Size Matter? Distribution of Crop Insurance Subsidies and Government Program Payments across U.S. Farms

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  • Anton Bekkerman
  • Eric J. Belasco
  • Vincent H. Smith

Abstract

This study uses farm‐level information from the ARMS database to evaluate the distribution of payments from major 2014 Farm Bill safety net programs—federal crop insurance, Agricultural Risk Coverage, and Price Loss Coverage—across farm size. Results indicate that farms within the top decile for crop sales receive over two‐thirds of the total payments from these programs. Recent legislative proposals to implement payment caps on each farm are shown to impact a relatively small percentage of farms that are almost entirely within the top decile of crop sales. However, implementing these caps is likely to result in as much as $2.51 billion in taxpayer savings. These help provide direction for continued efforts to design cost‐effective, equitable agricultural safety net policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Anton Bekkerman & Eric J. Belasco & Vincent H. Smith, 2019. "Does Farm Size Matter? Distribution of Crop Insurance Subsidies and Government Program Payments across U.S. Farms," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(3), pages 498-518, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:41:y:2019:i:3:p:498-518
    DOI: 10.1093/aepp/ppy024
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Nitta, Atomu & Yamamoto, Yasutaka & Kondo, Katsunobu & Sawauchi, Daisuke, 2020. "Direct payments to Japanese farmers: Do they reduce rice income inequality? Lessons for other Asian countries," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(5), pages 968-981.
    10. Boland, Michael A. & Kopka, Christopher J. & Jacobs, Keri L. & Berner, Courtney & Briggeman, Brian C. & Elliott, Matthew & Friend, Diane & Kenkel, Phil & McKee, Greg & Olson, Frayne & Park, John L. & , 2022. "Extension Programming During a Pandemic: The Cooperative Director Foundations Program," Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 4(2), July.
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