Modern studies in the field of public administration confirm the high efficiency and prospects of using targeted programs at various levels. The formation and realization of targeted programs in the implementation of the agrarian policy of Russia allow of solution of the most significant problems of the latter, while observing all planning principles and constantly monitoring the results achieved. The author of this article analyzes the use of targeted programs on the example of the “State Program for the Development of Agriculture and Regulation of Agricultural Products, Raw Materials and Food Markets”. He considers the directions and causes of its changes, the amount of financing aimed at its implementation, the distribution of responsibilities for its implementation and monitoring. The author also compares this program with the similar one at the level of the Voronezh region, identifies and substantiates common features and signs of difference. In addition to the positive aspects, it is indicated that the regional authorities are not yet fully aware of and so do not use the level of independence available to them in the formation and implementation of agricultural policy. The article proves the strategic nature of program-target planning, its specificity and systemic nature, which makes it attractive for public administration. A general conclusion is drawn on the effectiveness of targeted programs as a mechanism for implementing agricultural policy at the national and regional levels.

The paper substantiates the need for the formation of a set of measures of state support for agriculture. The concepts of "state regulation", "state support", "state assistance" and their goals are considered. The authors highlighted the main parameters of financial support in accordance with the State Program for the Development of Agriculture and the regulation of agricultural products, raw materials and food markets. The article considers the dynamics of the total amount of financial support provided within the State Program and highlights the changes in the composition of its directions at the regional level using the example of the Voronezh region. It is concluded that the set of support directions is constantly changing, and at the regional level, changes occur more often, are distributed relatively evenly in time and, apparently, reflect the current and medium-term needs of the agricultural sector of the region of the Russian Federation. The authors identified three levels of influencing factors upon the decisions in the field of state support for agriculture: the level of national agrarian policy; level of regional agricultural policy; micro level of the needs of individual producers and other entities of the agricultural sector. The article presents the key approaches to assessing the efficiency of the state support for agriculture in accordance with the set goals. The choice of indicators that would allow evaluation of the results of the measures of state support for agriculture is justified.