The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 , also known as the 2002 Farm Bill , addressed a great variety of issues related to agriculture , ecology , energy , trade , and nutrition . Signed after the September 11th attacks of 2001 , the act directs approximately $ 16.5 billion of government funding toward agricultural subsidies each year . This funding has had a great effect on the production of grains , oilseeds , and upland cotton . The United States paid allegedly around $ 20 billion in 2005 to farmers in direct subsidies as " farm income stabilization " via farm bills . Overall agricultural subsidies in 2010 were estimated at $ 172 billion by a European agricultural industry association ; however , the majority of this estimate consists of food stamps and other consumer subsidies , so it is not comparable to the 2005 estimate
September 11th attacks
September 11 attacks
Agricultural subsidy