https://data.ers.usda.gov/reports.aspx?ID=17833
The past decade it has been only about 10 billion a year with fixed direct payments largely eliminated in 2014. 2020 will obviously be an exception due to Covid-19. Most of the recent payments are Market Protection Programs to prevent exports from being wrecked by retaliatory tariffs under Trump.
https://www.farmers.gov/manage/mfp
That's very much a means-tested program to prevent farmers from being driven into bankruptcy by tariffs on things they've already produced. It's not a magic money fountain.
This doesn't really answer my question. I knew the money was given for reasons. The question is who is really getting it.
Note that the same report says that excluding subsidies, farmer net income increased in 2020 over 2019, so I'm not convinced the Covid pandemic is a good reason.
That's very much a means-tested program to prevent farmers from being driven into bankruptcy by tariffs on things they've already produced. It's not a magic money fountain.