5 ms·

Farmers (at least in the US) don't get any subsidies for vegetables.

by greglindahl 8y ago

vorpalhex 8y ago
Err, is corn not a vegetable?
- kibibyte 8y ago
  I think it's considered more of a grain than a vegetable.
  - HBlix 8y ago
    Corn is a heavily modified grass, so definitely a grain and not a vegetable.
    - munificent 8y ago
      More specifically (I looked it up because I was curious): Maize is an annual grass in the family Gramineae, which includes such plants as wheat, rye, barley, rice, sorghum, and sugarcane.
Retric 8y ago
US farmers do receive non crop based subsidies for growing vegetables. The absolute subsidy is far smaller, but far less land is used for vegetables 2.5 million acres vs 81.8 million acres of corn for grain, 47.8 million acres of wheat, and 89.6 million acres of soybeans. Sources: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-02-13-2018.pdf http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSu... https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2018/06-29-2018.php https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2018/06-29-2018.php
- hcurtiss 8y ago
  What are these non-crop-based vegetable subsidies you speak of?
  - Retric 8y ago
    Crop insurance for one thing: https://www.rma.usda.gov/pubs/2011/vegetable_growers.pdf https://www.rma.usda.gov/pubs/2011/vegetable_growers.pdf At the 75% coverage level the government pays 55% and the farmer pays 45%. Lower coverage levels get a higher subsidy. But really it’s a smorgasbord of options.
TruffleLabs 8y ago
This is not an accurate statement: see the USDA info on non-crop specific programs that are counted as farm support programs: https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/fruit-tree-nuts/policy/ https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/fruit-tree-nuts/policy...
- greglindahl 8y ago
  What % of these subsidies flow to vegetables? https://www.pcrm.org/health/reports/agriculture-and-health-policies-unhealthful-foods https://www.pcrm.org/health/reports/agriculture-and-health-p... > Between 1995 and 2009, USDA distributed more than $246 billion ($246,000,000,000) in subsidies. The subsidy system, updated approximately every five years, provides financial support primarily to producers of “commodity crops,” which include more than a dozen nonperishable crops. However, five commodity crops—corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, and rice—receive the vast majority of subsidies.

Farmers (at least in the US) don't get any subsidies for vegetables.

vorpalhex 8y ago

Err, is corn not a vegetable?

kibibyte 8y ago
I think it's considered more of a grain than a vegetable.
- HBlix 8y ago
  Corn is a heavily modified grass, so definitely a grain and not a vegetable.
  - munificent 8y ago
    More specifically (I looked it up because I was curious): Maize is an annual grass in the family Gramineae, which includes such plants as wheat, rye, barley, rice, sorghum, and sugarcane.

Retric 8y ago

US farmers do receive non crop based subsidies for growing vegetables. The absolute subsidy is far smaller, but far less land is used for vegetables 2.5 million acres vs 81.8 million acres of corn for grain, 47.8 million acres of wheat, and 89.6 million acres of soybeans. Sources: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSumm-02-13-2018.pdf http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/VegeSumm/VegeSu... https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2018/06-29-2018.php https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2018/06-29-2018.php

hcurtiss 8y ago
What are these non-crop-based vegetable subsidies you speak of?
- Retric 8y ago
  Crop insurance for one thing: https://www.rma.usda.gov/pubs/2011/vegetable_growers.pdf https://www.rma.usda.gov/pubs/2011/vegetable_growers.pdf At the 75% coverage level the government pays 55% and the farmer pays 45%. Lower coverage levels get a higher subsidy. But really it’s a smorgasbord of options.

TruffleLabs 8y ago

This is not an accurate statement: see the USDA info on non-crop specific programs that are counted as farm support programs: https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/fruit-tree-nuts/policy/ https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/fruit-tree-nuts/policy...

greglindahl 8y ago
What % of these subsidies flow to vegetables? https://www.pcrm.org/health/reports/agriculture-and-health-policies-unhealthful-foods https://www.pcrm.org/health/reports/agriculture-and-health-p... > Between 1995 and 2009, USDA distributed more than $246 billion ($246,000,000,000) in subsidies. The subsidy system, updated approximately every five years, provides financial support primarily to producers of “commodity crops,” which include more than a dozen nonperishable crops. However, five commodity crops—corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, and rice—receive the vast majority of subsidies.