Identifying Overlap in the Farm Safety Net

Due to the sheer number and complex combinations of farm safety net programs, policymakers are wary of overlap in producer support programs. This report clarifi es competing defi nitions of the farm safety net, offers a typology of potential duplication and overlap, and presents an analytical method for measuring overlap using a number of current risk management programs. This report focuses on the likelihood of overlap among ACRE, SURE, and crop revenue insurance using an ERS-developed analytical method that identifi es and measures overlap among programs by using a calculation of farm revenue that includes government program payments as a benchmark for intended levels of compensation. Results from recent ERS research suggest that budgetary savings could be achieved if ACRE and crop insurance were formally integrated, although findings also suggest that altering the farm safety net may cause unintended production consequences