Eric Belasco

Jul 15, 2024 | aei.org | Eric Belasco |Joseph W. Glauber

Key PointsPrimary farm operator ages are increasing, but at a rate slower than US life expectancy trends, and they do not present an immediate danger to the availability of agricultural products or farmland production. Farms classified as midsize and larger represent around 10 percent of all farms and 80 percent of production and have substantially younger primary operators than farms classified as small family farm operations.

Nov 6, 2023 | aei.org | Vincent Smith |Eric Belasco

Key PointsIn the farm bill renewal process, groups representing producers of nearly every major commodity are calling for “improvements” to the farm safety net, including higher reference prices and larger subsidies for commodities covered by Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage. Producers argue that increased reference prices and larger subsidies are justified because prices for key inputs have surged while commodity prices have fallen from their peak levels in 2022.

May 9, 2023 | aei.org | Eric Belasco |Vincent Smith

The federally subsidized crop insurance program guarantees that farmers will receive close to their expected revenues every year while relying on a costly delivery system operated by private insurance companies. The Pasture, Rangeland, Forage insurance program, which uses existing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to calculate payouts based on weather in a 12-by-12-mile grid system, provides a template for a more efficient alternative to crop insurance.

Apr 14, 2023 | aei.org | Eric Belasco |Joseph W. Glauber |Barry K. Goodwin |Vincent Smith

Commodity price and income support programs have been an integral part of the farm bill since its inception during the 1930s. Today, producers of 17 commodities are eligible to receive payments through the major Title I price and income support programs. Most of those producers enjoy incomes well above those of the typical US family.

Feb 1, 2023 | aei.org | Eric Belasco |Vincent Smith

Key PointsRecently, private crop insurance companies have captured over 40 percent of the annual subsidies for the federal crop insurance program, the purposes of which have expanded well beyond the program’s original intent just to protect farmers against yield and revenue shortfalls.