Farms throughout cities in Charlotte County received $4.3 million less in subsidies in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to the year before.
In 2021, 110 farmers in cities within Charlotte County received a total of $1.1 million in 168 farm subsidies, an 80.1% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $5.3 million in 327 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edentown Company NV, Inc. | $0 | $287,909 | — |
| Dilley Citrus Nursery, Inc. | $0 | $100,828 | — |
| Gardner Agent Enterprises, Ltd. | $104,171 | $93,268 | -10.5% |
| N Holderby Farm | $0 | $82,912 | — |
| Perry K. Kirby | $28,671 | $28,671 | 0% |
| Sweet Peach Farms, Inc. | $0 | $27,959 | — |
| Jolene Pink | $32,664 | $26,604 | -18.6% |
| Elizabeth Gollnick | $0 | $26,123 | — |
| Three Suns Ranch, LLC | $189,480 | $25,846 | -86.4% |
| Joseph J. Caffarelli | $23,464 | $23,464 | 0% |
| Dwight L Van Roekel Estate | $35,638 | $23,136 | -35.1% |
| Veren Farms, Inc. | $58,456 | $18,668 | -68.1% |
| Paige V Kreegel | $0 | $17,553 | — |
| Nick Berbos Real Estate Limited Partnership | $0 | $16,086 | — |
| Diane L Veren | $70,340 | $13,090 | -81.4% |
| Davis Family Irrevocable Trust | $11,248 | $11,248 | 0% |
| Richard E. Brinkman | $31,534 | $11,221 | -64.4% |
| Barry Cook | $10,409 | $10,409 | 0% |
| Sherman Farms, Inc. | $22,747 | $9,536 | -58.1% |
| John L. Flowers | $38,049 | $9,068 | -76.2% |
| Elaine Leininger | $9,182 | $8,950 | -2.5% |
| M S W Farms, LLC | $23,873 | $8,796 | -63.2% |
| JTN East, LLC | $8,736 | $8,736 | 0% |
| Marlene J. Morrish | $12,947 | $8,406 | -35.1% |
| Sill Farms, LLC | $342,381 | $8,400 | -97.5% |
| Thomas J. Chastain | $499,271 | $8,105 | -98.4% |
| Teresa Bandel Trust Agree. | $8,004 | $7,143 | -10.8% |
| Charles F. Marlowe | $7,041 | $7,041 | 0% |
| Dudley R. Price | $6,026 | $6,026 | 0% |
| Larry B. Boyette | $59,532 | $5,943 | -90% |
| Charleen J Shipp Trust Dated 2/24/98 | $10,660 | $5,924 | -44.4% |
| WF Topp Farms, LLC | $8,084 | $5,738 | -29% |
| Gloria Huebert | $5,634 | $5,634 | 0% |
| N H Mcqueen Trustee | $21,869 | $5,400 | -75.3% |
| Imperial Bees, LLC | $0 | $4,748 | — |
| Sherman R. Baynard | $1,794 | $4,141 | 130.8% |
| Chastain-Bishop Cattle, LLC | $11,346 | $4,105 | -63.8% |
| Berkland Family Trust | $3,570 | $3,570 | 0% |
| Morlock Trust | $3,216 | $3,216 | 0% |
| Michael Crandall | $1,968 | $2,988 | 51.8% |
| Derek John Deshler | $0 | $2,825 | — |
| A & M Citrus, Inc. | $0 | $2,758 | — |
| Connie Gregory | $3,493 | $2,756 | -21.1% |
| Joseph Johnston | $2,612 | $2,612 | 0% |
| Rodney M. Koehl | $2,409 | $2,482 | 3% |
| Rita L Knight Trustee 1 | $2,460 | $2,460 | 0% |
| Ripple Water Cattle Company, LLC | $13,106 | $2,423 | -81.5% |
| Karen L. Best | $9,779 | $2,396 | -75.5% |
| Thomas Roe | $5,322 | $2,198 | -58.7% |
| Gareth Morgan | $2,167 | $2,167 | 0% |
| Carol B. Spears | $783 | $1,981 | 153% |
| David Sipper | $2,184 | $1,928 | -11.7% |
| Dustin Lee Harbin | $7,227 | $1,918 | -73.5% |
| Ronald D. Delong | $2,242 | $1,863 | -16.9% |
| Duane B. Taylor | $1,827 | $1,827 | 0% |
| Calvin B Rutledge Trust IRR | $14,200 | $1,813 | -87.2% |
| Robert Cook | $1,692 | $1,692 | 0% |
| Gaye Phelps | $7,466 | $1,628 | -78.2% |
| Harold K. Sidmore | $6,279 | $1,599 | -74.5% |
| Michael V Astle Trust | $2,559 | $1,551 | -39.4% |
| Sharon J. Rask | $1,623 | $1,539 | -5.2% |
| Thomas Drexler | $0 | $1,458 | — |
| Steven S. Cusic | $1,440 | $1,440 | 0% |
| Sandy Willetts | $4,304 | $1,438 | -66.6% |
| Dale E. Best | $5,122 | $1,404 | -72.6% |
| Clifford M. Hall | $3,149 | $1,306 | -58.5% |
| Beverly a Honkola | $1,297 | $1,297 | 0% |
| Richard H. Worch Jr. | $0 | $1,271 | — |
| Eric L. Garcia | $4,882 | $1,173 | -76% |
| Marilyn M. Cannon | $4,921 | $1,131 | -77% |
| J D I Farms, Inc. | $924,004 | $1,103 | -99.9% |
| Luis E. Garcia | $6,164 | $1,087 | -82.4% |
| Terry L. Stamper | $2,051 | $992 | -51.6% |
| Magaw Family Trust | $1,027 | $984 | -4.2% |
| Bishop Farms | $2,415 | $960 | -60.2% |
| Kristina Slaydon | $3,069 | $887 | -71.1% |
| Lavern H. Outlaw Jr. | $3,003 | $880 | -70.7% |
| Charles H. Allgood | $1,933 | $802 | -58.5% |
| Roy Zubrod | $734 | $734 | 0% |
| Craig A. Emery | $2,245 | $642 | -71.4% |
| Faye M Wenzel Trust | $621 | $621 | 0% |
| John Carrolan | $621 | $621 | 0% |
| Charles R. Hudson | $481 | $614 | 27.7% |
| Kelly Beaty | $1,734 | $612 | -64.7% |
| Bryon H. Davis III | $0 | $610 | — |
| Rochelle Williams | $603 | $603 | 0% |
| Dawn Marie Roush | $1,467 | $584 | -60.2% |
| Steven L. Tobin | $2,095 | $542 | -74.1% |
| Charles Busing | $1,989 | $520 | -73.9% |
| William a Reffelt | $268 | $518 | 93.3% |
| Janice Jaen | $2,703 | $513 | -81% |
| Antler Ridge, LLC | $0 | $426 | — |
| Geraldine Ann Hall | $609 | $391 | -35.8% |
| Arvid C Ashdown GST Trust | $374 | $374 | 0% |
| Artemis Zoe Anderson | $593 | $338 | -43% |
| William B Votaw Family Trust | $380 | $329 | -13.4% |
| James F. Thomas Jr. | $284 | $284 | 0% |
| Frances K. Baker | $166 | $280 | 68.7% |
| Charlie J Zlobik | $1,011 | $238 | -76.5% |
| Charlie J Zlobik | $1,011 | $238 | -76.5% |
| Gary P. Bledsoe | $572 | $235 | -58.9% |
| Robert H. Sifrit | $231 | $234 | 1.3% |
| Bonnie Jill Koehler | $761 | $232 | -69.5% |
| Eddie Lee Michl JR – Edward Michl JR 2016 Dec of Trust | $379 | $204 | -46.2% |
| Sarah Jo Guetersloh | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Charles H. Adkins | $223 | $176 | -21.1% |
| Carl Schroeder | $144 | $144 | 0% |
| Sharon Bagsby | $212 | $137 | -35.4% |
| Bradley C. Reid | $191 | $60 | -68.6% |
| Tommie Edward Lee | $189 | $45 | -76.2% |
| Curtis D. Williamson Sr. | $2,290 | $0 | -100% |
| Darrell W. Hord | $235 | $0 | -100% |
| Eugene F. Hauer | $1,098 | $0 | -100% |
| Helen Richard | $3,926 | $0 | -100% |
| Janet F. Bernhard | $253 | $0 | -100% |
| John Thistle | $1,795 | $0 | -100% |
| Judith Holley Hester | $4,129 | $0 | -100% |
| Marilyn F. Walker | $2,078 | $0 | -100% |
| Martin Cannoot SR | $888 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael David Gillis | $1,590 | $0 | -100% |
| Nick Berbos Real Estate Limited P | $16,086 | $0 | -100% |
| Randy W. Lee | $164 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert Lahr Rev Trust | $1,692 | $0 | -100% |
| Stephen F. Griffing III | $20,695 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas D. Lashbrook | $424 | $0 | -100% |
| 4down Cattle Company, LLC | $8,580 | $0 | -100% |
| C & L Farms, Inc. | $497,772 | $0 | -100% |
| Christopher J. Worden | $64,212 | $0 | -100% |
| Curtis R. Sadley | $903 | $0 | -100% |
| David P Hrupsa | $164 | $0 | -100% |
| Debra K. Kelso | $1,160 | $0 | -100% |
| Debra Voorhies | $249 | $0 | -100% |
| Don Curtis, LLC | $126 | $0 | -100% |
| Frisbie Farms, LLC | $1,000,000 | $0 | -100% |
| G Road Grove, LLC | $322,739 | $0 | -100% |
| Gator Grove LC | $77,087 | $0 | -100% |
| Goracke Apiaries, LLC | $124,308 | $0 | -100% |
| Joyce Magaw | $2,661 | $0 | -100% |
| Kostantinos D Zafiropoulos | $2,000 | $0 | -100% |
| Lavaun Berkland Rev Trust | $6,116 | $0 | -100% |
| M E Stauffer Farms, Inc. | $2,612 | $0 | -100% |
| Mcqueen Illinois Property Trust | $11,364 | $0 | -100% |
| Pan American Farms, LLC | $67,064 | $0 | -100% |
| Ralph E. Goracke | $241,952 | $0 | -100% |
| Rebecca Hunt | $1,074 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert N Mcqueen-Robert N Mcqueen Rev Trust Dated Jan 9, 201 | $984 | $0 | -100% |
| Ronald Graves | $74 | $0 | -100% |
| Ruth V. Cole | $8,072 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas Twomey | $311 | $0 | -100% |
| Vernon Trayner | $1,795 | $0 | -100% |
| William Steinhagen | $3,025 | $0 | -100% |
| Wright Farms, LLC | $57,067 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $5,344,101 | $1,062,917 | -80.1% |
