# Department of Agriculture 

[Back to Downsizing Government](/downsizing-government) 

##### Latest Blog Posts 

##### [Federal Crop Insurance](/blog/federal-crop-insurance) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

##### [Farm Subsidies: More, More, More](/blog/farm-subsidies-more-more-more) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

##### [Fraud in Farm Subsidy Programs](/blog/fraud-farm-subsidy-programs) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Yasmeen Kallash-Kyler](https://www.cato.org/people/yasmeen-kallash-kyler) 

##### [Timeline: Department of Agriculture](/downsizing-government-essay/department-agriculture-timeline)

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.

[View Timeline](/downsizing-government-essay/department-agriculture-timeline) 

##### Department of Agriculture Spending 

[![Dept. of Agriculture Static Graph](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2025-10/AgricultureOutlays.png?itok=rpUfwWYa)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG001) 

This chart was generated using our [interactive charting tool](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG001), which visualizes data from the federal spending database released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

#### Featured Content 

[![Agriculture/Farm](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-11/agriculture-image-cropped.jpg?itok=5d1RoyY_)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/agricultural-subsidies) 

Study 

### [Agricultural Subsidies](/downsizing-government-essay/agricultural-subsidies) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/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.

[![Overheard Farm image](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-11/ovrhead-farm-image.jpeg?itok=AgqPUqPU)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/agricultural-regulations-trade-barriers) 

Study 

### [Agricultural Regulations and Trade Barriers](/downsizing-government-essay/agricultural-regulations-trade-barriers) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

[![subsidies ](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-03/subsidies.jpg?itok=1i2RxoZX)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/subsidy-programs-rural-america) 

Study 

### [Subsidy Programs for Rural America](/downsizing-government-essay/subsidy-programs-rural-america) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Stephen Slivinski](https://www.cato.org/people/stephen-slivinski) 

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

[![Food spread](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-11/food-spread.jpg?itok=GYy_-lAN)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/food-subsidies) 

Study 

### [Food Subsidies](/downsizing-government-essay/food-subsidies) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

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

[![Forest](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-05/forest%20Cropped.jpg?itok=0epywbaK)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/reforming-forest-service) 

Study 

### [Reforming the Forest Service](/downsizing-government-essay/reforming-forest-service) 

By [Randal O’Toole](https://www.cato.org/people/randal-otoole) 

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