Final answer:
Direct payments in the form of cash or commodity certificates are made directly to producers for specific purposes related to agriculture or conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Payments in the form of cash or commodity certificates made directly to producers from such purposes as production flexibility contract payments, deficiency payments, annual land diversion, or Conservation Reserve payments are called direct payments. These payments are made to support and incentivize producers to engage in certain activities or practices related to agriculture or conservation. For example, deficiency payments are made to farmers when the market price of a commodity falls below a certain target price, while annual land diversion payments are made to farmers who temporarily take land out of production and use it for conservation purposes.