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In 2021, 52 farmers in cities within Orange County received a total of $280,052 in 67 farm subsidies, a 65.9% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $821,849 in 159 farm subsidies.
Though farm subsidies support agriculture in the U.S., pumping $7 trillion into the economy, they are not without controversy.
The American Action Forum discovered that the most highly subsidized crops - corn, soy, wheat, and rice - are often consumed in highly processed ways, which leads to unhealthy eating habits and obesity, while the fruits and vegetables needed for a healthy diet are rarely subsidized.
"We are consuming more calories, fats, sodium, and sugars, and not enough beneficial nutrients and vitamins," Tara O'Neill Hayes wrote. "It is critical that both policymakers and the American public understand the influence that federal agricultural subsidies have on our food supply and diet and, in turn, our nutrition and health."
Farm subsidies have also been criticized for assisting the highest-earning agricultural businesses, not local farmers on their family farms who are barely getting by.
Kimberly Amadeo of The Balance said farmer subsidies "help high-income corporations, not poor rural farmers. Most of the money goes toward large agribusinesses."
The U.S. has provided farm subsidies since the Great Depression to assist farmers who weather price fluctuations and disasters, to help maintain consistent farming across the country.
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple View Farm, Inc. | $143,864 | $97,689 | -32.1% |
| Shambley Dairy, Inc. | $108,157 | $64,108 | -40.7% |
| Nicholas Fitzgerald | $0 | $22,292 | -- |
| Kirk Farms | $58,206 | $16,125 | -72.3% |
| Joe Nalley | $5,917 | $5,917 | 0% |
| Karen Vanderlinden | $5,657 | $5,577 | -1.4% |
| Kirk Farms & Landscaping, Inc. | $14,512 | $5,132 | -64.6% |
| David K. Walker | $22,562 | $4,391 | -80.5% |
| Long Acres, Inc. | $10,134 | $4,092 | -59.6% |
| Jane N. Fowler | $4,016 | $4,016 | 0% |
| Ray W. Nichols | $17,276 | $3,952 | -77.1% |
| Ben A. Lloyd Jr. | $9,911 | $3,102 | -68.7% |
| Joe M. Phelps | $5,843 | $3,067 | -47.5% |
| Latta's EGG Ranch, Inc. | $7,854 | $2,978 | -62.1% |
| William Keith Trollinger | $10,687 | $2,843 | -73.4% |
| Milton A. Latta & Sons Dairy Farm, Inc. | $0 | $2,702 | -- |
| John B. Smith | $2,035 | $2,563 | 25.9% |
| Double R. Cattle Services, Inc. | $15,577 | $2,489 | -84% |
| Richard Donald Kiser | $2,961 | $2,383 | -19.5% |
| Jenifer Jo Yarnelle | $3,251 | $2,209 | -32.1% |
| Thoms Creek Farm, LLC | $7,969 | $1,987 | -75.1% |
| Mcadams Farm, LLC | $31,336 | $1,870 | -94% |
| Susan Hardisty | $1,589 | $1,589 | 0% |
| Spring Trail Ranch, Inc. | $9,236 | $1,574 | -83% |
| Gary P. Cofer | $1,490 | $1,490 | 0% |
| Mark Hannah | $5,713 | $1,224 | -78.6% |
| Robert P. Thornton | $0 | $1,093 | -- |
| Todd K. Roberts | $4,657 | $1,075 | -76.9% |
| Adam D. Clements | $1,043 | $1,043 | 0% |
| Dennis Brooks | $1,038 | $1,038 | 0% |
| Joseph Patton Chockley | $1,165 | $1,020 | -12.4% |
| Tara Sue Wortham | $1,711 | $740 | -56.8% |
| Kenneth R. Bullock | $1,167 | $654 | -44% |
| Glen Oaks Farm, LLC | $1,771 | $633 | -64.3% |
| David Latta | $1,749 | $611 | -65.1% |
| Frances A. Dykstra | $494 | $531 | 7.5% |
| David M. Lewis | $1,803 | $520 | -71.2% |
| Ira Ward Jr. | $2,167 | $484 | -77.7% |
| Tate Hill Farm, Inc. | $2,209 | $416 | -81.2% |
| Joel D. Blalock | $1,227 | $408 | -66.7% |
| W & J Family Farm, LLC | $394 | $391 | -0.8% |
| Bryant Walker | $1,830 | $357 | -80.5% |
| Dyke Weatherington | $678 | $327 | -51.8% |
| Elizabeth J Waters | $314 | $314 | 0% |
| Bortz Family Farm | $2,664 | $258 | -90.3% |
| Denise Hudson | $814 | $212 | -74% |
| Lawrence Scott Mayhew | $298 | $156 | -47.7% |
| Cedar Grove Farm II, Inc. | $2,354 | $155 | -93.4% |
| Aaron Bortz | $0 | $131 | -- |
| Burnice L Cates | $99 | $99 | 0% |
| LFW Properties, LLC | $0 | $17 | -- |
| Tate, Inc. | $9,075 | $8 | -99.9% |
| Dean D. Throop | $2,064 | $0 | -100% |
| Fickle Creek Farm, LLC | $13,318 | $0 | -100% |
| Fireside Farm, LLC | $4,183 | $0 | -100% |
| Maria Christopher | $1,908 | $0 | -100% |
| Sharon M. Throop | $2,064 | $0 | -100% |
| Barry Roberts | $180 | $0 | -100% |
| Cates Corner Farm, LLC | $8,600 | $0 | -100% |
| Cynthia Stubbs | $706 | $0 | -100% |
| Donald Kenneth Thomas | $351 | $0 | -100% |
| Frank W. Hunter | $439 | $0 | -100% |
| Sam G. Ward | $478 | $0 | -100% |
| Jessie N. Ray | $2,538 | $0 | -100% |
| Lynn S. Holloway | $688 | $0 | -100% |
| Mary Sue W. Johnson | $1,668 | $0 | -100% |
| Milton A. Latta & Sons Dairy Farm | $32,707 | $0 | -100% |
| Old North Growers | $155,854 | $0 | -100% |
| Patrick T. Purcell | $10,774 | $0 | -100% |
| Paul Latta | $4,400 | $0 | -100% |
| Phyllis Underwood Rev Trust | $1,892 | $0 | -100% |
| Reginald L. McDade | $1,547 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard Holcomb | $8,731 | $0 | -100% |
| Tracy Anne Lafleur | $16,607 | $0 | -100% |
| W & F Family Farm, LLC | $527 | $0 | -100% |
| William Cramer | $3,151 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $821,849 | $280,052 | -65.9% |
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