Texas Gets $12.58B, Vermont Gets $40.3M: The Geography of Farm Subsidies
Farm subsidies aren't spread evenly across America. A handful of agricultural powerhouses receive the vast majority of federal dollars, while smaller states get a fraction.
The Top 5 States
Five states account for a disproportionate share of the $147.29B in farm subsidies:
The Bottom 5 States
At the other end, some states receive very little in farm subsidies:
Why It Matters
The geographic concentration of farm subsidies reflects the geographic concentration of commodity agriculture. States that grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton — the crops most heavily subsidized — receive the most money. States with diversified agriculture, smaller farms, or non-commodity crops receive far less federal support.
This creates a policy feedback loop: subsidies incentivize commodity monocultures, which concentrates more subsidy dollars in fewer states, which gives those states more political influence over farm policy. The result is a farm bill that serves commodity agriculture first and everyone else second.
📊 Explore the Data
See the full breakdown for every state on our States page.