1. New Mexico Federal Farm Subsidies Hans Tucker Alsup

2. Agricultural Subsidies Subsidies are money the government hands out, similar to a grant Subsidies are money the government hands out, similar to a grant Agricultural subsidies are used to Agricultural subsidies are used to Support Agricultural business (Agribusiness) Support Agricultural business (Agribusiness) Fund their revenue, manage the supply of product Fund their revenue, manage the supply of product Influence the economical aspects of agricultural business Influence the economical aspects of agricultural business Money for subsidies comes from taxpayers, how does that make you feel? Money for subsidies comes from taxpayers, how does that make you feel?

3. Agricultural and Farming Subsidy Requirements farm has to be currently producing a crop and has to have all shareholders and owners working, providing land, or managing the farm farm has to be currently producing a crop and has to have all shareholders and owners working, providing land, or managing the farm Every partner or stockholder and even a member that has an ownership interest has to provide management and or labor frequently and on a regular basis in order to be qualified for the farming subsidies Every partner or stockholder and even a member that has an ownership interest has to provide management and or labor frequently and on a regular basis in order to be qualified for the farming subsidies

4. Agricultural and Farming Subsidy Requirements If these people fail to meet one of those requirements, they will not qualify for the program and their payments will be reduced accordingly to the share held by the stockholder or member of the farm If these people fail to meet one of those requirements, they will not qualify for the program and their payments will be reduced accordingly to the share held by the stockholder or member of the farm If you are the only owner of the land and company this is some terrific news for you If you are the only owner of the land and company this is some terrific news for you

5. Not everyone receiving them qualify for a subsidy Some people forge paperwork or lie in order to receive money that they may not have been eligible for Some people forge paperwork or lie in order to receive money that they may not have been eligible for “GAO found that of the 1.8 million individuals receiving farm payments from 2003 through 2006, 2,702 had an average adjusted gross income (AGI) that exceeded $2.5 million and derived less than 75 percent of their income from farming, ranching, or forestry operations, thereby making them potentially ineligible for farm payments.” “Nevertheless, USDA paid over $49 million to these individuals.”

6. How Subsidies can be Useful Subsidies can be beneficial in maintaining a stable agricultural economy. Subsidies can be beneficial in maintaining a stable agricultural economy. Can also be useful for helping a new or struggling farm owner getting started Can also be useful for helping a new or struggling farm owner getting started

7. Steps the Government should take in order to stop wasteful spending A lot of the money for subsidies is either going to people who do not meet eligibility requirements, or who do not need the money at all because their business is turning a profit without the help of the government A lot of the money for subsidies is either going to people who do not meet eligibility requirements, or who do not need the money at all because their business is turning a profit without the help of the government To ensure that the money for these programs is being used widely they must make a more strict selection process To ensure that the money for these programs is being used widely they must make a more strict selection process

8. Steps the Government should take in order to stop wasteful spending According to the Government Accountability Office, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not have efficient management controls According to the Government Accountability Office, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not have efficient management controls To solve this the government must To solve this the government must Find or hire accountants to run audits on the applicants Find or hire accountants to run audits on the applicants Create more strict rules and laws to ensure that the people applying truly deserve the taxpayer’s dollars Create more strict rules and laws to ensure that the people applying truly deserve the taxpayer’s dollars

9. The Effects of the Government Performing These Actions The government could benefit multiple ways from these actions including The government could benefit multiple ways from these actions including More agricultural product overall More agricultural product overall Increased trade and foreign aid Increased trade and foreign aid Reduce wasteful government spending Reduce wasteful government spending

10. In Conclusion Subsidies are given to farms in order to supplement their income and incentivize them in order to keep farming Subsidies are given to farms in order to supplement their income and incentivize them in order to keep farming Every time a farm fails, the subsidies are used in order to bail them out and have them keep farming but that uses the tax payers’ money Every time a farm fails, the subsidies are used in order to bail them out and have them keep farming but that uses the tax payers’ money Not fair to many taxpayers Not fair to many taxpayers There needs to be drastic changes to the way that subsidies and farms are handled There needs to be drastic changes to the way that subsidies and farms are handled

11. Bibliography Office, United States Government Accountability. GAO Report to the Ranking Member, (n.d.): n. pag. Gao.gov. GAO, Oct. 2008. Web. 2 May 2015 "Fact Sheets." Fact Sheets. FSA, Dec. 2009. Web. 2 May 2015 Database. Environmental Working Group, n.d. Web. 02 May 2015.