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USDA SUBSIDY DATA · 2024 · EWG / FOIA

USDA Subsidy Payments in Palo Alto County, Iowa

Palo Alto County received $33.8M in farm subsidies (2024).

Palo Alto County at a Glance
Agricultural Producers
N/A
Top Commodities
N/A
USDA Payments
$33.8M
Subsidy Recipients
911
Land Value?
N/A
Cropland Rent?
N/A
22 USDA programs currently accepting applications. Find programs for your farm →
911 farmers in Palo Alto County received $33.8M in 2024
Average payment: $37,092 per recipient
Program Breakdown — Palo Alto County

Palo Alto County, Iowa received $33.8M in total farm subsidies (2024).

Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) $2,536
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) $7.2M
Disaster Payments $333,723
Crop Insurance Subsidies $13.1M
Total $33.8M
Top Recipients — Palo Alto County (911 total)

Businesses shown by full name; individuals shown by initials (FOIA/EWG data).

1. Dejay Farms — Ruthven, IA 51358
$250,000
2. S.F.T.O.T.M.I.I. — Ames, IA 50010
$99,454
3. W.F.J. — Bancroft, IA 50517
$81,276
4. T.F.F. — Emmetsburg, IA 50536
$75,750
5. D.A.N.M.J.V. — Ruthven, IA 51358
$69,754
6. D.L.S. — Graettinger, IA 51342
$56,623
7. Behr Farms Lc — Mason City, IA 50401
$55,858
8. J.N.G. — Marion, IA 52302
$50,000
9. J.A.H.T. — Gilbert, AZ 85234
$50,000
10. J.E.N. — Wellington, OH 44090
$49,990
11. Mersch Farms Inc — Bellingham, WA 98228
$49,508
12. M.R.J. — Ruthven, IA 51358
$49,304
13. Rose Family Farm LLC — Ankeny, IA 50023
$48,727
14. M.M.V. — Humboldt, IA 50548
$48,421
15. G.L.M. — Spirit Lake, IA 51360
$48,098
16. M.L.F. — Graettinger, IA 51342
$47,765
17. D.C.F. — Holstein, IA 51025
$47,098
18. J & M Farms Inc — Mallard, IA 50562
$46,912
19. J.T. — Lone Rock, IA 50559
$44,701
20. E.H.R. — Webb, IA 51366
$43,052
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How to Apply — Open Programs

These USDA programs are currently accepting applications. Visit your local NRCS/FSA office to get started.

ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage — County) FSA

Provides revenue loss protection when actual county crop revenue drops below a benchmark. Payment is automatic once enrolled — no claim needed.

Value: $8–$75/acre depending on crop and county revenue shortfall
Complexity: Low — sign election at FSA, 15 minutes
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number (FSA will have it on file)
PLC (Price Loss Coverage) FSA

Provides price protection when the national average price for a covered commodity drops below its reference price. Pays on base acres, not planted acres.

Value: $0–$125+/acre depending on how far price drops below reference
Complexity: Low — sign election at FSA, 15 minutes
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number
CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) FSA

Annual rental payments for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and planting conservation cover (grass, trees, buffers). 10-15 year contracts.

Value: $50–$300+/acre/year depending on soil rental rate in your county
Complexity: Medium — FSA evaluates your offer using Environmental Benefits Index
Where: Your local FSA office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • FSA farm number
  • Deed or lease for the land
  • Cropping history (last 6 years)
EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) NRCS

Cost-share payments (typically 50-75%) for conservation practices: cover crops, fencing, water systems, nutrient management, erosion control, and more.

Value: Cost-share typically 50-75% of practice cost (90% for beginning farmers). Payment limits removed for FY2025.
Complexity: Low to apply (2-page form), then NRCS develops conservation plan with you
Where: Your local NRCS office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • Deed or lease
  • Description of conservation concerns
CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program) NRCS

Annual payments for maintaining and improving existing conservation practices. If you're already doing cover crops, no-till, or rotational grazing — you may already qualify.

Value: $4,000–$40,000+/year depending on acres and practices (minimum raised from $1,500 to $4,000 in FY2024)
Complexity: Medium — NRCS evaluates your existing conservation and scores it
Where: Your local NRCS office
Bring:
  • Photo ID
  • Deed or lease
  • Description of current conservation practices
Federal Crop Insurance RMA

Government-subsidized crop insurance. The government pays ~60% of your premium. Protects against yield loss, revenue loss, or both.

Value: Premium subsidy saves $5–$30+/acre; coverage at 50-85% of expected revenue
Complexity: Low-Medium — agent handles paperwork, you choose coverage level
Where: Through a private crop insurance agent (not FSA/NRCS)
Bring:
  • Production records (yield history)
  • Acreage information
  • FSA farm/tract numbers
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Farmer Success Stories — Iowa

Real farmers in Iowa share how USDA programs helped their operations.

NRCS · Jun 06, 2025
Fridays on the Farm: Improving Energy Efficiency in Iowa
More Success Stories →
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USDA Funding Rank — Palo Alto County, Iowa ?
911 subsidy recipients were funded in Palo Alto County in 2024.
81th
percentile in Iowa
Ranked 20th of 99 counties · $7.6M total
0th 50th 100th
What this means: Palo Alto County receives more USDA funding than 81% of counties in Iowa. This county is a major recipient of federal farm support.

Want the full list of every subsidy recipient in Palo Alto County?

See All Recipients on EWG →

Environmental Working Group publishes full USDA FOIA data.

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See every USDA subsidy, grant, and loan available in Iowa — with deadlines and how to apply.

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Data Sources

All data is from public federal sources. Updated periodically — verify current details at your local USDA office.

Program information sourced from USDA. Eligibility described here is general guidance only. Confirm at your local FSA or NRCS office. FarmGrant is not affiliated with USDA.