The Impact of the Direct Peanut Price Support Program on Farm Income and Government Cost

Abstract

Two major programs — allotment-quota and price support — have been in force to support peanut farming since 1952. The purpose is to restrict production of peanuts while supporting the price of peanuts produced. Production is restricted through the allotment-quota program, determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, and converted to a national acreage allotment. However, minimum national acreage allotment has been fixed at 1.61 million acres. The price support program provided that price be supported no lower than 75 percent of the parity price of peanuts. Under the programs, peanuts produced by the grower are sold on the market at the support price for edible uses and excess quantities are sold to the government at the support price. Peanuts purchased by the government are stored and later sold for crushing at the going market price. Because peanuts for crushing command a much lower price than the government acquisition price, the purchase-and-resale operation results in a net loss representing public cost of the peanut price support program.