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USDA Livestock Subsidies Top $72B

By Bennett Rosenberg and Jared Hayes 

The Department of Agriculture has spent at least $72 billion in subsidies for livestock and seafood producers in recent decades, a new EWG analysis finds. 

EWG’s analysis reveals that between 1995 and 2023, the USDA granted the billions in payments to support livestock operators. More than $32 billion went to disaster payments and Covid-19 pandemic relief. 

Other major animal agriculture expenses include more than $20 billion in livestock commodity purchases and nearly $17 billion in other subsidies, such as those for dairy operators. 

Crop insurance subsidies to livestock operators increased significantly in recent years. Since 2018, livestock insurance participation surged from 2,873 policies to 16,384 policies in 2023, and total spending rose from $3.5 million to $419 million. 

Federal subsidies to livestock producers soared in recent years.

Crops

EWG’s analysis of subsidies to livestock operators did not include the commodity and crop insurance payments made to farmers who grow animal feed such as corn and soybeans.

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A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Video:


Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm