Fed. subsides question

I am writing a reply to a farmer bashing editorial tha was in my local paper a few days ago, and have a few questions. Since I only grow hay I am not up to date on the Fed programs, especially since the changes in 2000.
Do livestock producers, beef/hogs/poultry qualify for any subsides?
Other than hay and I believe vegtable growers, are there any other crops that are NOT subsidized?
What is the "standard" amount for grain farmers, i.e., govt. covers 100% of crop, or just enouigh to cover expenses?
I posted the whole article on CROP TALK below.
Any TRUTHFUL addition are welcomed. I don't want to try to make her look like the azz She is by putting any untrueisms in my reply.
Thanks a lot!
Larry NEIL

Depends on what you mean by "subsidized".

Federal subsides, like theos that wer/are being paid by those in the drought areas.

Believe it or not,,in certain conditions hay growers can be subsidized also. YES there are programs for livestock producers. The amount you recieve for payment on crop insurance depends on your coverage amount. But thats not a true subsidy in my mind. If is then my home or car insurance is a subsidy of sorts. For a real honest answer on this,without all the bs, go down to the local field office for your area. Theres many many programs,nearly all vary from area to area and some arent even available in all areas.The best way to find out what programs apply to you,is to simply walk in and tell them you want info on all programs you can legally sign up for, because it often varies by what you do with what. you will get some notices in the mail of programs and things that will suprise you.I dont agree all subsidies are bad, but there are some programs that i think are over the top.

Search here to see if your neighbors qualify.
I've noticed many who split their farms with their wife or son(s) so that the total number won't put them near the top of the list. Search enough, you will see many checks going to addresses in BIG Citys.
Clicky

Being a beef guy,I can tell you,the only thing I get is DCP,Direct Countercyclical Payment. A few bucks an acre based on my corn,oats and wheat history. Amounts to about a quarter of my property taxes. I can't get it on much rented ground because you need at least a 10 acre base for a crop to get it,and being in a long rotation of hay with only two years of corn,then oats one year before going back to hay for 6-7 years,the base on these small farms I rent doesn't qualify. To be honest,I see it as just a way for the government to bribe me to report my crops every year. As far as I know,DCP isn't a part of either version of the new farm bill. If I don't get a payment,I'm not going to go in and tell the government what I'm doing with every acre that I farm. If they want to know,they can hire somebody with a clip board and a search warrant to look for themselves.

Yes their are subsidies for livestock. FSA operating loans certianly count. EQIP helps pay for cross fencing and water developments, during drought emergency grazing or haying of CRP ground, and their is other direct stuff. Lots of indirect stuff, research at the land grant universities, international trade assistance (help selling US beef, or wine, in Japan, Korea ect). Vegtable growers certianly use a bunch of subsidized water. Like them or not, EWG does their homework

My understanding is anyone that farms or has a interest in farming can get government money .
There is no reason for the government to be giving out money !
My problem with EWG is and if you read their website close , they post what you COULD get . In my County it says that 62% of those eligible do NOT collect . I don't collect but I am listed because I have to sigh a paper at the farmers welfare office every spring so 2 of my over 80 and widowed land lords can collect less than 10 bucks a acre .

Livestock producers can get many types of loans or grants for dealing with manure issues, water quality issues, etc. Like all govt programs, the govt requires dumb stuff that costs the livestock growers, so it's not all free money. But for example, my dairy neighbor put up a new 120 cow dairy barn, he waited a year and then got some grants and low intrest loan to put in the manure basin. This can also apply to hog and beef folk, depends how you play your cards.

Dairy folk have some milk payment programs that they can collect on. Again, the govt messes up the market so badly, it's not a great deal - but it's there, folks are getting peayments.

There have been cattle payments in the past, sort of a disaster for poor hay deal. Very low payout, and don't believe it is still part of the current program, but it has happened, and could again.

Some will argue the crop subsidies were the main reason crop prices have been so low and stable for many decades, and so these subsidies generally passed through to livestock producers so they shared heavily in the benefits of the grain subsidies. But some livestock producers don't like to hear that, so I'll just pretend I didn't say that. I do remember in the 1980's and 90's getting $2 a bu for corn or less, and livestock fellas snikering and saying who would be dumb enough to grow corn, when they could buy it cheaper than they could grow it.... But no matter, never mind....

In general, the year in and year out subsidies go to corn, soybeans, and wheat - the bulk grains that get exported.

Of late the govt has prefered subsidising crop insurance, and letting private insurance deal with crop and revenue losses. You can insure your crop for damage, and/or for a certain income level per acre. The govt pays a portion of the cost of these types of insurance. You pay the rest. It is a _very_ complicated thing, with many options, and the price is different in every county of the USA. So it is difficult to explain this so it makes sense, or compare a dollar figure on it. It is the direction the govt seems to prefer tho, and wishes to expand in the next farm bill. The direct payment appears they will end, and the other programs perhaps fade back some.

--->Paul

Have not heard much about..shall we say..( Failed Minority farmers) getting paid for their failed flower-pot farms...
Is that still going on..??

Ron

Just going to add that the dairy program you mentioned - MILC (Milk Income Loss ...something-or-other) ended 2 or 3 months ago. Covered 40% of the difference when prices dropped below cost of production.