Agribusiness versus Family Farms

Abstract

BILLIONS OF FARM BILL DOLLARS flow into America’s rural communities each year to boost income for farmers, who continue to face cycles of financial, environmental, and agricultural challenges. But are the farmers and landowners who cash those subsidy checks the ultimate beneficiaries of these programs, or are other interests being served? Following the money trail involves understanding the complex circumstances surrounding what it means to be a “farm.” It also requires focusing on why the government singles out so few crops for the majority of subsidies. Finally, it means drilling down into deep divides: family farms versus corporate mega-farms, producers versus buyers, and commodity versus diversified agriculture.