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# GRAPHIC: On top of billions in USDA pandemic aid, farmers got $5.8 billion in PPP loans
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-on-top-of-billions-in-usda-pandemic-aid-farmers-got-5-8-billion-in-ppp-loans/
- Published: 2023-11-15T11:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-11-15T11:00:00.000Z
- Description: Paycheck Protection Program loans accounted for about 13% of total federal payments to farmers as they dealt with issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
- Author: Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Data Harvest, National, TP::Explainer, farm subsidies, USDA, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

In 2020, the agricultural sector received about $45 billion — the most ever — in federal assistance. More than half of that came in the form of direct pandemic aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, [according to federal data](https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/farm-income-and-wealth-statistics/?ref=investigatemidwest.org).

But a significant amount came from a non-USDA source: the [Paycheck Protection Program](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-small-businesses/paycheck-protection-program?ref=investigatemidwest.org). The payments were implemented to help businesses keep afloat while parts of society shut down.

Loans from the program were forgiven if at least 60% was spent on payroll expenses. Nearly all PPP loans to the farm sector have been forgiven, [according to the USDA](https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=107675&cpid=email&ref=investigatemidwest.org).

California’s farmers received the most money in PPP loans, according to the data.

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