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In 2021, 34 farmers in cities within Forest County received a total of $1 million in 42 farm subsidies, a 480.5% increase from 2020, when the total was just $173,203 in 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| David J & Edward F Bula PTR | $53,515 | $173,821 | 224.8% |
| Sokaogon Chippewa Community | $2,700 | $116,395 | 4,210.9% |
| 4 S Seed Farms, LLC | $6,150 | $61,871 | 906% |
| Pyrcz Logging, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Mel Flannery JR Land & Logging, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| T & T Forest Products, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Whitetail Logging, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Cleereman Veneer, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Connor Forest Management, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Connor Forest Products, LLP | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Bailey Logging | $0 | $47,425 | -- |
| Ted Frank, LLC | $0 | $34,742 | -- |
| Jake Matuszewski Logging, LLC | $0 | $27,478 | -- |
| Neil E Schallock Trucking, LLC | $0 | $23,929 | -- |
| Palubicki Transport, LLC | $0 | $18,828 | -- |
| Frydrych Trucking | $0 | $15,569 | -- |
| Cruisers Classic Logging, LLC | $0 | $14,281 | -- |
| Kirk Schallock Logging | $0 | $14,152 | -- |
| Frank Fatla Trucking, LLC | $0 | $13,073 | -- |
| David Marvin Forest Products | $0 | $12,819 | -- |
| Larock Logging, LLC | $0 | $12,450 | -- |
| Carl Bailey III Logging | $0 | $11,656 | -- |
| Paul I. Millan | $0 | $10,564 | -- |
| Glacier Cattle Company, LLC | $23,560 | $6,741 | -71.4% |
| Littleton Forest Products | $0 | $6,533 | -- |
| Dale D. Webb | $19,760 | $4,584 | -76.8% |
| Gerald E. Medow Jr. | $6,865 | $2,034 | -70.4% |
| Benjamin Ison | $7,681 | $1,973 | -74.3% |
| Geiter Septic Pumping, Inc. | $0 | $1,100 | -- |
| Melvin H. Flannery | $5,073 | $915 | -82% |
| Cale J. Frydrych | $2,409 | $836 | -65.3% |
| Levi Tibbs | $6,291 | $812 | -87.1% |
| Wahleithner Seed Farms, LLC | $28,772 | $582 | -98% |
| Thomas E. Moris | $0 | $211 | -- |
| Rocks Open Valley Ranch | $6,867 | $0 | -100% |
| Joan M. Ginter | $1,910 | $0 | -100% |
| John G. Tiede | $1,650 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $173,203 | $1,005,499 | 480.5% |
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