What Companies Benefit from Farm Bill Commodity Contracts?

Here are several companies that pulled in big bucks through the federal commodities program in 2005, the most recent year with complete figures:

• Tyson Foods, the largest meat producer in the U.S., with revenues totaling $26 billion, received $46.6 million in commodity contracts.

• Smithfield Foods, the fourth-largest meat producer, with $11 billion in revenues, scored $18.2 million in contracts through two subsidiaries.

• Pilgrim’s Pride and Hormel are the seventh- and eighth-largest meat producers, respectively. Pilgrim’s Pride pulled in $42.4 million, while Hormel received $28 million in commodity contracts.