Mandatory

Agricultural Risk Coverage (County and Individual)

Agricultural risk coverage (ARC) is a “shallow loss” agribusiness income guarantee program created in the 2014 farm bill. Producers of major commodity crops such as wheat, corn, soybeans and many others may choose county-based or individual coverage. The program covers shallow as opposed to deep losses experienced after severe droughts or floods. For producers choosing […]

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

EQIP provides technical assistance, cost-share payments and other incentive payments to assist crop and livestock producers with environmental and conservation improvements on agricultural land used. Beneficiaries include many large-scale producers of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) who receive taxpayer subsidies for cleaning up the waste that inevitably collects because of their operations. The 2018 farm […]

Essential Air Service Program

The Essential Air Service (EAS) program was launched as a temporary program in the late 1970s and codified in 1994 to ease the transition to airline deregulation by subsidizing commercial flights to the nation’s rural airports. However, many of the cities this program served can be found within reasonable driving distance from airports with unsubsidized […]

Market Access Program (MAP)

Since 1978, MAP has subsidized overseas advertising campaigns, product demonstrations, promotions and exhibitions for U.S. agribusinesses and trade associations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) administers the market promotion program.

Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels

The Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels (BPAB) is intended to pay advanced biofuel producers to expand their production levels. Other than corn starch ethanol, nearly every other type of biofuel is eligible for the program, including ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, butanol or biofuels derived from cellulose (like perennial grasses or agricultural residues), sugar or starches, waste […]

Price Loss Coverage Payments

PLC provides crop price support payments primarily to agricultural producers of corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, oilseeds, peanuts and pulse crops. If a crop price falls below a government-set minimum price, a subsidy payment is made. Payments are reduced on an acre-by-acre basis for producers who choose to grow fruits, vegetables or wild rice that are […]

Rural Energy for America Program

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)—most recently reauthorized by the 2018 Farm Bill—provides loan guarantees and grants for rural small business and agricultural producers to purchase renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements, energy audits and feasibility studies. Renewable energy systems include wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass, hydrogen and ocean power. Even though REAP was […]

Foreign Market Development Program

The Foreign Market Development Program promotes export of agricultural products by funding activities including trade promotion, market research and technical assistance to actual or potential foreign purchasers of U.S. commodities. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) enters into agreements with agricultural trade associations and commodity organizations to promote trade.