Report shows distribution of farm subsidies

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Almost two-thirds of $12.2 billion in farm subsidies went to the top 10 percent of farmers and businesses that received payments last year, including a chicken company and the insurance company John Hancock, says an advocacy group.
According to information released today, Environmental Working Group said a review of government records showed $8 billion in subsidies went to 170,717 recipients out of 1.7 million overall recipients. The largest payments went to farmer-owned cooperatives, a chicken company, a seed business and a wetlands conservation group.