A Farm Bill for the One-Tenth of the 1%

Don’t call it a budget reconciliation bill. Call it a “farm bill for the one-tenth of the 1%.”

That’s because the budget reconciliation bill the House passed today will make it easier for the wealthiest farmers to receive farm subsidies.

In particular, the bill increases the limit on farm subsidies for certain commodity crops from $125,000 to $155,000. Less than one-tenth of 1% of farms received more than $125,000 linked to government price guarantees in 2024, according to farm subsidy data provided by the Department of Agriculture. Only one-tenth of 1% received a payment greater than $125,000 in 2023, and only two-tenths of 1% received a payment greater than $125,000 in 2022.

Because farm subsidy payments are tied to production, only the largest and most successful farmers will benefit from the bill increasing the payment limit.

Consider Pennsylvania, part of which is represented by Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), chairman of the Agriculture Committee. In 2024, no Pennsylvania farms came close to the current payment limit of $125,000. In 2023, only 113 farms received more than the limit – out of 49,000 in the state.