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# GRAPHIC: Big commercial farms got 10x more government assistance than family farms
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-big-commercial-farms-got-10x-more-government-assistance-than-family-farms/
- Published: 2021-07-29T18:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T18:10:52.000Z
- Author: Luis Velazquez, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Data Harvest, TP::Explainer, farm income, Farm payments, farm subsidies, tariff-coverage, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

The federal government subsidized commercial farms much more than family farms in 2019, [according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture figures](https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=101671&ref=investigatemidwest.org).

In 2019, commercial farms, which means they gross more than $350,000 annually, received an average of about $85,000 from the government.

On the other hand are residence farms that have less income; the owner is either retired or makes a living working another job besides farming. These farms received an average of about $8,000, according to the USDA.

After the Trump administration started its trade wars, it paid [billions](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/the-largest-single-beneficiary-of-trumps-tariff-payments-an-alternative-farm-lender/) to farmers. The payments propped up farmers’ income at a time when many were hurting financially, [according to a report from the University of Illinois’ Farmdoc Daily](https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2019/11/market-facilitation-program-payments-and-2020-cash-rents.html?ref=investigatemidwest.org).

***\[Read more:*** [***The largest single beneficiary of Trump’s tariff payments? An alternative farm lender.***](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/the-largest-single-beneficiary-of-trumps-tariff-payments-an-alternative-farm-lender/)***\]***

“Other” includes payments that are not part of an existing farm safety net and can usually cover production. “[Conservation](https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/index?ref=investigatemidwest.org)” programs provide funds to restore farmland that’s been damaged. “[Marketing loans](https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/mal%5Fldp%5F090420%5Ffact%5Fsheet.pdf?ref=investigatemidwest.org)” help farmers with cash flow when the market might not be advantageous for selling their products. And “[counter-cyclical programs](https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/What-is-the-Direct-and-Counter-Cyclical-Program?ref=investigatemidwest.org)” pay farmers when crop revenues fall below a specified guaranteed level.

*Lead photo by Darrell Hoemann for Investigate Midwest*