U.S. Government Pays $780 Million to Farmers

The federal government paid California farmers $780 million in subsidies last year, with primarily large cotton and rice-producing farms receiving 51% of the money.

The Federal Farm Service Agency, which wrote the checks, called them a reflection of the state’s poor agricultural economy.

“I don’t think you’ll find a farmer who would rather get his money from us than the marketplace,” said John Smythe, the agency’s state executive director. “But when times are tough as they are today, I’m sure they’ll take it from wherever they can get it.”