Crop Insurance: A Good Deal for Taxpayers?

Last year farmers received $746 million in net crop insurance payments. But the program cost taxpayers approximately $2.5 billion, or $3.31 for each dollar paid out. Since 2001, when the provisions of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act (ARPA) fully came into force, taxpayers have paid $15.1 billion to deliver $8.82 billion to farmers. This imbalance between taxpayer costs and producer benefi ts has led some to question whether money allocated to crop insurance might be more effi ciently used elsewhere in USDA’s budget. For example, producers would have received all $15.1 billion if the funds had been sent out in the form of direct payments. Or, this $15.1 billion could support the Conservation Reserve Program for nine years. Or, of course, our national debt would be $15.1 billion smaller now without the progra