For over a decade, specific Federal farm programs have targeted assistance based on the characteristics of farm families. This is in contrast to the more typical policy approach of establishing eligibility for farm programs based on crops produced, conservation goals, or disaster relief.

Preferential treatment under one or more farm programs is based on the following personal characteristics of farmers and ranchers:

• Years of farming experience, that is, beginning farmers and ranchers.

• Membership in demographic groups whose members may have been subjected to gender, racial, or ethnic prejudices. These individuals are jointly referred to as socially disadvantaged farmers.

• Farm families with low financial resources, so-called limited resource farmers.

ERS research on this topic includes:

• Analyzing the financial performance and characteristics of the businesses, operators, and households of beginning, socially disadvantaged, and limited-resource farms.

• Assessing the participation of these "targeted" farms in Federal farm programs and the impact that the preferential treatment given to targeted farmers has on the distribution of program assistance.

• Examining trends in farm business exit and entry.  

Last updated: Tuesday, May 29, 2012

For more information contact: Mary Ahearn