U.S. Public At Odds With Government Policy on Farm Subsidies: Supports Subsidies to Small Farmers, But Not Large Farming Businesses

Abstract

A new PIPA/Knowledge Networks poll finds that American public attitudes on farm subsidies are sharply at odds with actual U.S. policy. While 77 percent supported providing subsidies to small farms (under 500 acres), only 31 percent supported providing them to large farming businesses (over 500 acres). In fact, 80 percent of U.S. subsidies go to large farming businesses and while most of them get subsidies, this is true of only a minority of small farmers (Source: USDA).