I’m giving the opening keynote at the Maine Grain Alliance’s 2025 Kneading Conference, which culimiantes in the Maine Artisan Bread Fair on July 26. My talk is at 8:30 a.m. at the Strand Cinema in Skowhegan, Maine. I’m really looking forward to this one.
by Marion Nestle
Apr
13
2022
USDA subsidies for animal agriculture
If you want to understand why it’s so difficult to change meat consumption patterns, try the Environmental Working Group’s latest analysis: USDA has spent nearly $50 billion on livestock subsidies since 1995.
From 1995 to 2021, USDA spent
- $11 billion on livestock disaster assistance
- $14.2 billion on livestock commodity purchases
- ~$5 billion in dairy subsidies
- $15 billion in payments to offset the effects of the pandemic
In addition, USDA paid $160 billion during those years to producers of the corn and soybeans used to feed those animals.
In contrast, USDA spent less than $30 million to promote plant-based proteins since 2018.
The numbers say it all.
Policy change, anyone?