crop subsidy
Low market prices could mean $6-$8 billion in corn subsidies
Two agricultural economists say corn subsidies could cost $6 to $8 billion for this year's record-large corn crop, says Reuters. The estimates are based on the projected U.S. average price of $3.50 a bushel for the crop, the price guarantees of the farm bill and...
Crop insurance favors large-scale growers, says white paper
The federally subsidized crop insurance system is skewed toward large-scale growers of crops such as corn and soybeans, says the Land Stewardship Project in the second of three white papers on the program.
Farm expert says farm-program deadline should be changed
USDA "may want to consider" changing the March 31 deadline for growers to decide which crop subsidy option to take - a traditional plan based on target prices or a new approach based on crop revenue, says economist Carl Zulauf of Ohio State University.
Glum price outlook as farmers face crop subsidy decisions
Farmers will sell this year's record-setting corn and soybean crops for the lowest season-average price in eight years, the government forecast in a new look at crop output and usage. USDA says the corn and soybean crops are marginally larger than it estimated a month ago. Supplies will be the largest in years, holding down prices for the year ahead.
USDA unveils crop subsidy programs, selection tool
The government formally introduced its new crop subsidy programs along with an online tool to help grain and oilseed growers decide which of the two is best for their operations. Beginning on Monday, owners can tell USDA if they want to re-allocate "base" acres and update yield histories for crops they usually grow. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack described those "very important decisions" as a preparatory step to the choice of whether to enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage subsidies.
Rice is likeliest crop to trigger U.S. subsidy this year
Commodity prices are down sharply this year for major crops yet wheat and soybeans may not trigger subsidies under the new farm law, says economist Carl Zulauf of Ohio State University in a blog.
Record corn and soy crops may mean $125,000 payments
Economist Carl Zulauf of Ohio State University says crop subsidies of $30-$90 an acre are possible with record crops and farm-gate prices that average $3.60 a bushel, reports DTN.
SCO, a farm bill creation, available for eight major crops
The Supplemental Coverage Option, created by the 2014 farm law as a cushion against low prices and poor yields, will be offered on eight widely planted crops for harvest next year, said the Agriculture Department. SCO will be available for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, spring barley, spring wheat, and winter wheat in many areas.
Farmers will shy away from new revenue subsidy
U.S. farmers will stick with traditional crop subsidies based on crop prices and shy away from the crop revenue subsidy created in the new farm law, says the Congressional Budget Office.
KSU’s Art Barnaby goes into the weeds on the farm bill
Ag economist Art Barnaby of Kansas State University created a 13-page summary of the crop subsidy and federally subsidized crop insurance provisions of the 2014 farm law.
LDPs are back for wheat and may be coming in corn
It's been a decade since low commodity prices made loan-deficiency payments a routine, if arcane, part of U.S. agriculture. But prices are low enough that wheat growers are collecting LDPs and the payments "might even be on the cusp of returning for corn in some parts of the country," says DTN. When farmers request an LDP, the USDA pays them the difference between the support price for a crop and the market price, when prices are below the so-called loan rate.