Perspectives on Subsidies
What are our key perspectives on animal ag subsidies? We conclude that animal ag subsidies are not a central pillar holding up the animal ag industry. Eliminating subsidies would not significantly affect the availability, retail pricing, or consumption levels of animal-sourced foods.[1] Other government policies are exponentially more important to the industry’s stability, sales volume, […]
Animal Ag Subsidies
What share of federal agricultural subsidies supports the factory farming system? We broadly estimate that at least 50% of all federal agricultural subsidies supports the factory farming system.[1] This includes payments to livestock and poultry producers and to crop producers for that share of crops specifically used for animal feed.[2] See, Estimated Cost of Major […]
Agricultural Subsidies Overview
What is a subsidy? A subsidy is “Monetary assistance granted by a government to a person or group in support of an enterprise regarded as being in the public interest.”[1] A more nuanced definition explains that a subsidy is “any government assistance that (i) allows consumers to purchase goods and services at prices lower than […]
Loss of the wild ones – no room on the farm
Wild mammal populations are about one-seventh the size of pre-human days, as measured by total weight. Humans and farmed animals now dominate the earth, with wild land mammals just 2% of total land mammal biomass.
Land Use for Animal Ag
KEY POINTS – Land Use for Animal Ag 1. About 56% of all harvested cropland is devoted to crops specifically used for animal feed – 175 million acres. 2. Including grazing, ~80% of all agricultural land is devoted to animal agriculture. 3. About 45% of the total land area of the lower 48 states is […]
Land Use for Agriculture
What are the most reliable estimates for land uses in the U.S.? The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has provided “Major Uses of Land” reports since 1945. Their studies provide the most comprehensive accounting of all major uses of public and private land.[1,2] The agency publishes a report approximately every 5 years based on several […]
Animal Ag Subsidies Takeaways
Animal Ag Subsidies Takeaways Takeaways are key points detailed and referenced in the Subsidies section Agriculture Subsidies ♦ The average cost of federal agricultural subsidies is about $30 billion per year, broadly and conservatively estimated. This is more than 3 times the 2024 budget of the EPA. ♦ There are roughly 864,000 farms with annual […]
Infographic – Subsidies
Below are some key figures for agricultural subsidies averaged over recent years. They summarize the two major categories of subsidies: crop insurance premiums and direct payments. Subsidies to animal agriculture are highlighted – estimating the crop insurance subsidies and direct payments to crops primarily and/or specifically grown for animal feed and the key direct payment […]
Until All the Rivers Run Dry
The Colorado River and the Rio Grande are running dry. The major U.S. aquifers are being depleted at alarming rates. Yet no one seems to be asking: Is feed for livestock really where our water should be going?
Counting the Uncounted
Last year 1,358,812,000 farmed land animals in the U.S. died or were killed before reaching the slaughter line. That’s 43 animals dying every second of every day. In the drive to maximize profits, animal death and suffering is just a line item on an expense sheet.