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Timeline: Department of Agriculture

Explore a historical timeline of U.S. federal agricultural policy, from the Constitution’s founding through modern farm and nutrition programs — highlighting key acts, subsidy expansion, and institutional developments.

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Department of Agriculture Spending
Dept. of Agriculture Static Graph

This chart was generated using our interactive charting tool, which visualizes data from the federal spending database released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Featured Content

Agriculture/Farm
Study

Agricultural Subsidies

By Chris Edwards

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.

Food spread
Study

Food Subsidies

By Chris Edwards

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

Downsizing Government
About

The federal government is running huge budget deficits, spending too much, and heading toward a financial crisis. Without a change of direction in Washington, average working families will be faced with large tax increases and a lower standard of living. This project is designed to help policymakers and the public understand where federal spending goes and how to reform each government department. It describes the failings of agencies and identifies specific programs to cut. It also discusses the systematic reasons why government programs are often obsolete, mismanaged, or otherwise dysfunctional.

Please contact Chris Edwards at cedwards@​cato.​org with questions or comments. 

Information on the data sources for our charts.