Department of Agriculture

The government protects farmers against fluctuations in prices, revenues, and yields. It subsidizes their conservation efforts, insurance coverage, marketing, export sales, research, and other activities.

The USDA’s rural agencies have layers of bureaucracy in Washington, plus they have administrators in 500 offices across the nation.

Most of the department’s budget goes toward food subsidies, including the food stamp and school lunch programs.

The Forest Service oversees 193 million acres of forests and provides subsidies to businesses and state governments.