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In 2021, 58 farmers in cities within Douglas County received a total of $602,185 in 85 farm subsidies, a 62.1% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $1.6 million in 132 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBI, LLC | $62,821 | $131,242 | 108.9% |
| Borda Land & Sheep Company, LLC | $253,436 | $113,459 | -55.2% |
| Gansberg Ranch, LLC | $246,834 | $51,436 | -79.2% |
| Willow Stay Ranch, LLC | $89,547 | $34,651 | -61.3% |
| Etherington Enterprises, LP | $12,528 | $32,497 | 159.4% |
| Rockin L Ranch, LLC. | $16,599 | $22,855 | 37.7% |
| Ciro Mancuso | $27,029 | $21,873 | -19.1% |
| Arneson Land and Livestock | $48,234 | $20,753 | -57% |
| Gary W. Ward | $44,283 | $18,774 | -57.6% |
| Scossa Ranch, LLC | $55,134 | $11,550 | -79.1% |
| Park Ranch, LLC | $146,464 | $11,224 | -92.3% |
| Settelmeyer Ranches, Inc. | $28,873 | $11,058 | -61.7% |
| John and Sharon Kelley Trust | $0 | $10,371 | -- |
| Genoa Livestock, LLC | $53,127 | $10,292 | -80.6% |
| Joseph Nady -Nady Family Rev Living Trust Nady | $20,720 | $6,909 | -66.7% |
| Hussman Land & LVSTK, Inc. | $14,298 | $6,307 | -55.9% |
| Nickolas J. Nalder | $14,384 | $6,290 | -56.3% |
| Nickolas J. Nalder | $0 | $6,290 | -- |
| Dreyer Foothill Ranch, LLC | $16,548 | $6,287 | -62% |
| Churia Holstein Limited Partnership | $0 | $4,600 | -- |
| Charlie Hone | $23,195 | $4,212 | -81.8% |
| Loren Mrnak | $17,024 | $4,085 | -76% |
| William Drew Kolbe | $10,460 | $3,880 | -62.9% |
| Ritzville Motor Company | $6,033 | $3,600 | -40.3% |
| Don Frensdorff | $4,912 | $3,548 | -27.8% |
| Craig Altringer | $0 | $3,147 | -- |
| Brian C. Mehrer | $0 | $3,014 | -- |
| Mack Land & Cattle Company | $12,628 | $2,879 | -77.2% |
| Simon R. Fisher | $13,442 | $2,868 | -78.7% |
| George McCrosky | $11,694 | $2,793 | -76.1% |
| Graff Family Living Trust Dated Feb 13, 2013 | $2,759 | $2,759 | 0% |
| Diamond J Ranch, LLC | $15,763 | $2,674 | -83% |
| Camilla K Jovicich | $2,430 | $2,430 | 0% |
| Leander Altringer | $0 | $2,083 | -- |
| Kurt M. Hamann | $8,261 | $2,029 | -75.4% |
| CT Ranch, LLC | $3,729 | $1,971 | -47.1% |
| Alec Boga - Alec G Boga Revocable Trust | $1,875 | $1,882 | 0.4% |
| Travis Lee Smith | $182 | $1,772 | 873.6% |
| Lekumberry Land and Livestock, LLC | $5,966 | $1,534 | -74.3% |
| Gina O'Connor | $1,420 | $1,320 | -7% |
| Daniel Coverley | $5,610 | $1,198 | -78.6% |
| Felipe Regalado | $4,147 | $1,195 | -71.2% |
| Frank Settelmeyer North, LLC | $0 | $1,186 | -- |
| Sheri Walters | $4,543 | $969 | -78.7% |
| Charles Q. Gilbert | $4,411 | $688 | -84.4% |
| John E. Dicks | $903 | $507 | -43.9% |
| Gary Oien | $475 | $475 | 0% |
| Nomad Investments, LLC | $3,114 | $393 | -87.4% |
| Frank Settelmeyer Properties, LLC | $0 | $379 | -- |
| Carol Schoenfeld | $380 | $358 | -5.8% |
| Rebecca E Tekansik | $700 | $270 | -61.4% |
| Travis H Tekansik | $1,496 | $262 | -82.5% |
| Mike Depasquale | $137 | $256 | 86.9% |
| Dorea D Shoemaker | $0 | $245 | -- |
| Kent Neddenriep | $836 | $226 | -73% |
| Linda Noah | $409 | $193 | -52.8% |
| Terry M. Jacobsen | $339 | $166 | -51% |
| Susan Battcher | $48 | $21 | -56.3% |
| Churia Holstein Limited Partnersh | $7,958 | $0 | -100% |
| Roy Don Miller | $1,840 | $0 | -100% |
| Santa Rosa Meadows Ranch, LLC | $1,069 | $0 | -100% |
| Stodieck Farm, LLC | $599 | $0 | -100% |
| 8989 Vineyards, LLC | $37,187 | $0 | -100% |
| Frank Settelmeyer North, LLC | $1,962 | $0 | -100% |
| Frank Settelmeyer Properties, LLC | $632 | $0 | -100% |
| Peter Jensen | $137,405 | $0 | -100% |
| Ruth F. Dawson | $924 | $0 | -100% |
| Jennifer L. Taylor | $2,156 | $0 | -100% |
| 2008 Brett G Jensen Family Trust | $60,590 | $0 | -100% |
| BG Jensen Farms, LLC | $11,344 | $0 | -100% |
| Jonathan L. Weaks | $5,844 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $1,589,690 | $602,185 | -62.1% |
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