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In 2021, 51 farmers in cities within Tioga County received a total of $931,230 in 90 farm subsidies, a 56.6% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $2.1 million in 199 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stronghaven Farm, LLC | $339,153 | $159,883 | -52.9% |
| Lloyd's USA Development, Inc. | $378,373 | $144,400 | -61.8% |
| David Shipman | $147,643 | $93,881 | -36.4% |
| Margaret Gehm | $143,784 | $83,322 | -42.1% |
| Chris L Luszczek | $102,937 | $68,759 | -33.2% |
| Till-Son Farms, LLC | $62,809 | $61,309 | -2.4% |
| Charles Hayes | $62,828 | $49,484 | -21.2% |
| Albert Fargnoli Sr. | $82,514 | $39,705 | -51.9% |
| Albert Fargnoli Jr. | $32,199 | $32,199 | 0% |
| Terry E. Shipman | $27,985 | $28,223 | 0.9% |
| Craig Jochum | $0 | $27,378 | -- |
| Yvette Francisco | $0 | $21,853 | -- |
| Caleb Card | $13,141 | $19,967 | 51.9% |
| Sarah Champion | $16,110 | $13,965 | -13.3% |
| David L. Hamley | $17,828 | $13,948 | -21.8% |
| Lee Top Farm, LLC | $44,069 | $10,643 | -75.8% |
| Steven Livingston | $22,511 | $10,405 | -53.8% |
| Henry Huizinga | $146,954 | $10,155 | -93.1% |
| French Farm, LLC | $28,694 | $8,954 | -68.8% |
| R Hidden Valley Farm | $14,328 | $5,518 | -61.5% |
| Robert D. Stummer | $4,324 | $3,187 | -26.3% |
| William J. Simmons Jr. | $3,108 | $3,108 | 0% |
| Karin Dahlander | $0 | $2,976 | -- |
| Sallie Uettwiller | $15,310 | $2,728 | -82.2% |
| Allen Card | $7,971 | $1,767 | -77.8% |
| Charles Creeley | $98 | $1,690 | 1,624.5% |
| Thelma Walker | $26,624 | $1,259 | -95.3% |
| Dean M. Belden | $3,498 | $1,238 | -64.6% |
| Jason Vandyke | $2,508 | $1,131 | -54.9% |
| Tammy A. Ellerson | $3,325 | $938 | -71.8% |
| Liel R Stevens | $0 | $825 | -- |
| Anthony D. Tavelli | $0 | $730 | -- |
| Barry Baker | $1,749 | $686 | -60.8% |
| Lynn Bennett | $2,910 | $651 | -77.6% |
| Grady Updyke | $3,737 | $529 | -85.8% |
| Kenneth W. Miller | $1,804 | $496 | -72.5% |
| Justin Bellis | $1,694 | $459 | -72.9% |
| Marz Farm | $500 | $450 | -10% |
| Timothy Bellis | $586 | $427 | -27.1% |
| Bodee Nicholas | $1,683 | $350 | -79.2% |
| Carl Brink Farm, LLC | $1,991 | $302 | -84.8% |
| Janine Quick Bellis | $9,207 | $283 | -96.9% |
| Fred Smith | $280 | $280 | 0% |
| Edward Gehm | $489 | $252 | -48.5% |
| Wendy Card | $0 | $130 | -- |
| Justian Jordan | $4,903 | $113 | -97.7% |
| Fargnoli Farms II, LLC | $0 | $100 | -- |
| Alan S. Bill | $107 | $83 | -22.4% |
| Robert N. Allen | $38,036 | $80 | -99.8% |
| Jennifer Bassman | $4,074 | $17 | -99.6% |
| Brenda Price | $3,665 | $14 | -99.6% |
| Lisa Bloodnick | $6,178 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael Huizinga | $1,884 | $0 | -100% |
| Timothy Card | $522 | $0 | -100% |
| Foster Farms | $1,541 | $0 | -100% |
| Lawrence S. Brink | $343 | $0 | -100% |
| Teresa B. Bishop | $1,557 | $0 | -100% |
| Bottomland Farm, LLC | $3,447 | $0 | -100% |
| Jacqueline M. Jewett | $300 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael Glos | $4,475 | $0 | -100% |
| Michele Kline | $926 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert C Finch | $895 | $0 | -100% |
| Scott Crispell | $330 | $0 | -100% |
| U&C Dairy | $36,299 | $0 | -100% |
| Vernon C. Ryan | $72 | $0 | -100% |
| Cindy Milesky | $1,650 | $0 | -100% |
| Joseph Merritt | $1,650 | $0 | -100% |
| Farm Service Agency/Commodity CRE | $253,977 | $0 | -100% |
| Liel D Stevens | $267 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $2,144,354 | $931,230 | -56.6% |
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