| Rank |
County |
Total Direct Payments
1995-2011 | Pct of
Total | Running
Percentage |
| 1 | Mitchell County, Georgia | $40,328,478 | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| 2 | Dooly County, Georgia | $39,001,646 | 4.2% | 8.5% |
| 3 | Decatur County, Georgia | $37,453,859 | 4.0% | 12.4% |
| 4 | Colquitt County, Georgia | $36,319,773 | 3.9% | 16.3% |
| 5 | Early County, Georgia | $35,520,753 | 3.8% | 20.1% |
| 6 | Worth County, Georgia | $35,413,728 | 3.8% | 23.9% |
| 7 | Miller County, Georgia | $29,261,278 | 3.1% | 27.0% |
| 8 | Bulloch County, Georgia | $27,241,106 | 2.9% | 29.9% |
| 9 | Irwin County, Georgia | $26,274,706 | 2.8% | 32.7% |
| 10 | Brooks County, Georgia | $26,104,456 | 2.8% | 35.5% |
| 11 | Burke County, Georgia | $23,326,320 | 2.5% | 38.0% |
| 12 | Seminole County, Georgia | $21,250,245 | 2.3% | 40.2% |
| 13 | Baker County, Georgia | $21,205,942 | 2.3% | 42.5% |
| 14 | Calhoun County, Georgia | $21,068,197 | 2.2% | 44.7% |
| 15 | Sumter County, Georgia | $20,999,373 | 2.2% | 47.0% |
| 16 | Terrell County, Georgia | $20,326,761 | 2.2% | 49.1% |
| 17 | Coffee County, Georgia | $18,413,100 | 2.0% | 51.1% |
| 18 | Berrien County, Georgia | $18,255,168 | 1.9% | 53.0% |
| 19 | Thomas County, Georgia | $17,881,140 | 1.9% | 54.9% |
| 20 | Grady County, Georgia | $17,451,111 | 1.9% | 56.8% |
| 21 | Turner County, Georgia | $17,252,351 | 1.8% | 58.6% |
| 22 | Lee County, Georgia | $16,778,936 | 1.8% | 60.4% |
| 23 | Appling County, Georgia | $16,440,612 | 1.8% | 62.2% |
| 24 | Crisp County, Georgia | $16,415,421 | 1.7% | 63.9% |
| 25 | Tift County, Georgia | $16,305,755 | 1.7% | 65.7% |
| 26 | Wilcox County, Georgia | $15,384,009 | 1.6% | 67.3% |
| 27 | Randolph County, Georgia | $15,000,446 | 1.6% | 68.9% |
| 28 | Screven County, Georgia | $14,308,103 | 1.5% | 70.4% |
| 29 | Cook County, Georgia | $13,842,487 | 1.5% | 71.9% |
| 30 | Macon County, Georgia | $13,020,458 | 1.4% | 73.3% |
| 31 | Jefferson County, Georgia | $12,186,864 | 1.3% | 74.6% |
| 32 | Pulaski County, Georgia | $12,132,281 | 1.3% | 75.9% |
| 33 | Laurens County, Georgia | $11,766,622 | 1.3% | 77.1% |
| 34 | Dodge County, Georgia | $11,608,680 | 1.2% | 78.4% |
| 35 | Emanuel County, Georgia | $10,214,774 | 1.1% | 79.4% |
| 36 | Bleckley County, Georgia | $10,082,702 | 1.1% | 80.5% |
| 37 | Jenkins County, Georgia | $9,965,951 | 1.1% | 81.6% |
| 38 | Jeff Davis County, Georgia | $9,281,011 | 1.0% | 82.6% |
| 39 | Pierce County, Georgia | $9,244,002 | 1.0% | 83.6% |
| 40 | Ben Hill County, Georgia | $8,600,402 | 0.9% | 84.5% |
| 41 | Clay County, Georgia | $7,508,041 | 0.8% | 85.3% |
| 42 | Webster County, Georgia | $7,482,316 | 0.8% | 86.1% |
| 43 | Houston County, Georgia | $7,208,720 | 0.8% | 86.8% |
| 44 | Bacon County, Georgia | $6,966,379 | 0.7% | 87.6% |
| 45 | Atkinson County, Georgia | $6,743,218 | 0.7% | 88.3% |
| 46 | Candler County, Georgia | $6,361,948 | 0.7% | 89.0% |
| 47 | Wayne County, Georgia | $6,170,998 | 0.7% | 89.6% |
| 48 | Washington County, Georgia | $5,612,962 | 0.6% | 90.2% |
| 49 | Dougherty County, Georgia | $5,329,183 | 0.6% | 90.8% |
| 50 | Lowndes County, Georgia | $5,292,304 | 0.6% | 91.4% |
| 51 | Telfair County, Georgia | $4,924,761 | 0.5% | 91.9% |
| 52 | Toombs County, Georgia | $4,763,828 | 0.5% | 92.4% |
| 53 | Johnson County, Georgia | $3,993,157 | 0.4% | 92.8% |
| 54 | Tattnall County, Georgia | $3,887,524 | 0.4% | 93.2% |
| 55 | Stewart County, Georgia | $3,761,147 | 0.4% | 93.6% |
| 56 | Lanier County, Georgia | $3,236,121 | 0.3% | 94.0% |
| 57 | Peach County, Georgia | $2,942,829 | 0.3% | 94.3% |
| 58 | Taylor County, Georgia | $2,867,597 | 0.3% | 94.6% |
| 59 | Twiggs County, Georgia | $2,766,728 | 0.3% | 94.9% |
| 60 | Montgomery County, Georgia | $2,715,895 | 0.3% | 95.2% |
| 61 | Effingham County, Georgia | $2,660,872 | 0.3% | 95.5% |
| 62 | Wheeler County, Georgia | $2,524,980 | 0.3% | 95.7% |
| 63 | Evans County, Georgia | $2,209,735 | 0.2% | 96.0% |
| 64 | Ware County, Georgia | $2,189,291 | 0.2% | 96.2% |
| 65 | Treutlen County, Georgia | $1,983,892 | 0.2% | 96.4% |
| 66 | Schley County, Georgia | $1,759,700 | 0.2% | 96.6% |
| 67 | Floyd County, Georgia | $1,661,901 | 0.2% | 96.8% |
| 68 | Marion County, Georgia | $1,595,550 | 0.2% | 97.0% |
| 69 | Elbert County, Georgia | $1,566,514 | 0.2% | 97.1% |
| 70 | Hart County, Georgia | $1,547,429 | 0.2% | 97.3% |
| 71 | Quitman County, Georgia | $1,526,705 | 0.2% | 97.4% |
| 72 | Gordon County, Georgia | $1,507,411 | 0.2% | 97.6% |
| 73 | Bartow County, Georgia | $1,473,782 | 0.2% | 97.8% |
| 74 | Lamar County, Georgia | $1,471,621 | 0.2% | 97.9% |
| 75 | Polk County, Georgia | $1,365,756 | 0.1% | 98.1% |
| 76 | Morgan County, Georgia | $1,325,106 | 0.1% | 98.2% |
| 77 | Pike County, Georgia | $1,155,623 | 0.1% | 98.3% |
| 78 | Walton County, Georgia | $998,759 | 0.1% | 98.4% |
| 79 | Wilkinson County, Georgia | $732,506 | 0.1% | 98.5% |
| 80 | Oconee County, Georgia | $731,644 | 0.1% | 98.6% |
| 81 | Warren County, Georgia | $694,564 | 0.1% | 98.7% |
| 82 | Bryan County, Georgia | $659,344 | 0.1% | 98.7% |
| 83 | Madison County, Georgia | $640,068 | 0.1% | 98.8% |
| 84 | Echols County, Georgia | $624,543 | 0.1% | 98.9% |
| 85 | Monroe County, Georgia | $603,872 | 0.1% | 98.9% |
| 86 | Walker County, Georgia | $560,130 | 0.1% | 99.0% |
| 87 | Richmond County, Georgia | $529,951 | 0.1% | 99.1% |
| 88 | Wilkes County, Georgia | $509,251 | 0.1% | 99.1% |
| 89 | Chattooga County, Georgia | $455,959 | 0.0% | 99.2% |
| 90 | Jackson County, Georgia | $442,644 | 0.0% | 99.2% |
| 91 | Franklin County, Georgia | $427,483 | 0.0% | 99.2% |
| 92 | Crawford County, Georgia | $412,657 | 0.0% | 99.3% |
| 93 | Glascock County, Georgia | $410,642 | 0.0% | 99.3% |
| 94 | Oglethorpe County, Georgia | $387,590 | 0.0% | 99.4% |
| 95 | Henry County, Georgia | $337,326 | 0.0% | 99.4% |
| 96 | Meriwether County, Georgia | $318,420 | 0.0% | 99.4% |
| 97 | Upson County, Georgia | $291,559 | 0.0% | 99.5% |
| 98 | Newton County, Georgia | $267,620 | 0.0% | 99.5% |
| 99 | Long County, Georgia | $267,380 | 0.0% | 99.5% |
| 100 | Hall County, Georgia | $261,043 | 0.0% | 99.6% |
| 101 | Clarke County, Georgia | $239,662 | 0.0% | 99.6% |
| 102 | Brantley County, Georgia | $209,949 | 0.0% | 99.6% |
| 103 | McDuffie County, Georgia | $200,577 | 0.0% | 99.6% |
| 104 | Hancock County, Georgia | $193,345 | 0.0% | 99.7% |
| 105 | White County, Georgia | $188,115 | 0.0% | 99.7% |
| 106 | Bibb County, Georgia | $181,775 | 0.0% | 99.7% |
| 107 | Heard County, Georgia | $165,527 | 0.0% | 99.7% |
| 108 | Jasper County, Georgia | $164,146 | 0.0% | 99.7% |
| 109 | Clinch County, Georgia | $158,797 | 0.0% | 99.7% |
| 110 | Coweta County, Georgia | $154,409 | 0.0% | 99.8% |
| 111 | Murray County, Georgia | $140,838 | 0.0% | 99.8% |
| 112 | Baldwin County, Georgia | $136,518 | 0.0% | 99.8% |
| 113 | Barrow County, Georgia | $135,460 | 0.0% | 99.8% |
| 114 | Spalding County, Georgia | $121,521 | 0.0% | 99.8% |
| 115 | Butts County, Georgia | $121,386 | 0.0% | 99.8% |
| 116 | Haralson County, Georgia | $107,594 | 0.0% | 99.8% |
| 117 | Union County, Georgia | $107,423 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 118 | Catoosa County, Georgia | $101,911 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 119 | Carroll County, Georgia | $96,660 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 120 | Gilmer County, Georgia | $93,599 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 121 | Putnam County, Georgia | $90,180 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 122 | Whitfield County, Georgia | $81,162 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 123 | Lincoln County, Georgia | $80,860 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 124 | Lumpkin County, Georgia | $78,876 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 125 | Dawson County, Georgia | $76,422 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 126 | Fannin County, Georgia | $71,556 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 127 | Banks County, Georgia | $70,915 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 128 | Greene County, Georgia | $65,467 | 0.0% | 99.9% |
| 129 | Talbot County, Georgia | $62,761 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 130 | Forsyth County, Georgia | $45,902 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 131 | Habersham County, Georgia | $44,336 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 132 | Liberty County, Georgia | $42,696 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 133 | Taliaferro County, Georgia | $36,905 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 134 | Chatham County, Georgia | $33,463 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 135 | Dade County, Georgia | $32,008 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 136 | Rabun County, Georgia | $24,317 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 137 | Stephens County, Georgia | $20,901 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 138 | Columbia County, Georgia | $19,555 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 139 | Jones County, Georgia | $17,171 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 140 | Fayette County, Georgia | $15,145 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 141 | Towns County, Georgia | $14,531 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 142 | Pickens County, Georgia | $13,673 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 143 | Charlton County, Georgia | $8,807 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 144 | Troup County, Georgia | $7,986 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 145 | Gwinnett County, Georgia | $5,609 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 146 | Rockdale County, Georgia | $919 | 0.0% | 100.0% |
Source: Environmental Working Group. Compiled from USDA data.
Note: The information on conservation spending for 2011 is incomplete due to missing data from USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service. In addition some payments made in 2010 were not assigned to recipients in the data received from NRCS. Those payments are also not included.
The information provided for the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) provides an inaccurate picture of how WRP payments are distributed. USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service uses title companies as intermediaries to finalize wetlands easements under the Wetlands Reserve Program. As a result, the data provided to us shows large sums of money going to these title companies. In reality, the payments are ultimately distributed to landowners participating in the WRP.
Unfortunately, NRCS has not provided the data to show where these farms and wetlands are located or which farmers or landowners are enrolling in the program, so EWG is unable to allocate these large sums of money to individuals beyond the title companies. Therefore, these companies skew the conservation rankings and payment concentration, which EWG cannot avoid unless and until NRCS makes available the additional farm attribution data. Therefore, we have not included WRP payments in the 2011 data update.
We have separated data on farm commodity, disaster and conservation payments in order to provide a more accurate picture of top recipients and concentration of payments among the three main categories of USDA programs.
Finally, EWG works hard to ensure the accuracy of the information it provides through its products and services, but obtains data for the Farm Subsidy Database from the U.S. Department of Agriculture pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Therefore, EWG cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information USDA provides or any analysis based thereon. If you find an error or discrepancy on the site, please contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency office to check its records before contacting EWG.
