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Abstract
The data on the distribution of direct government
payments challenges the prevailing belief
that little needs to be done in revising the commodity
programs for the 1990 farm bill. At
least, if the objective of the commodity programs
is to support incomes of disadvantaged
low income farm businesses it is likely to continue
to miss the mark based on recent experience.
In 1987 more than 40 percent of direct
government payments to farm operators went
to 60,000 farmers who averaged more than
$75,000 In payments, almost $100,000 in net
cash farm incomes and more than $750,000 in
net farm worth.