The Great Ag Heist...From Taxpayers

From Prof. Mark Perry today. See the entire post. It has some good graphics that paint a very telling picture.

Maps are from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average farm real estate value has increased by 85% in the last five years, from $1,270 per acre in 2003 to $2,350 in 2008 (see top chart above, click to enlarge). Many Midwest corn and grain states like the Dakotas, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Nebrask have experience double-digit increases in farm values in just the last year (see bottom chart above, click to enlarge).Strong commodity prices and farm programs, outside investments, favorable interest rates, and tax incentives continue to be the factors that drive farm real estate values to record levels.
Update: With farm real estate values booming, commodity farm prices close to historical highs, and farm profits at record levels (see chart below), this group still needs farm subsidies (e.g. $288 billion 2008 farm bill).