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In 2021, 27 farmers in cities within Litchfield County received a total of $309,046 in 48 farm subsidies, a 70.9% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $1.1 million in 111 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy | $48,297 | $50,000 | 3.5% |
| Harry Klug | $71,672 | $47,740 | -33.4% |
| Logue Farms, Inc. | $332,976 | $40,199 | -87.9% |
| Meadow Ridge Farm, LLC | $50,234 | $38,117 | -24.1% |
| Carlwood Farm, LLC | $32,863 | $25,060 | -23.7% |
| Woodbury Farm Market, Inc. | $0 | $23,269 | -- |
| Philip W. Grindrod | $27,210 | $21,440 | -21.2% |
| Birch Mill Farm Partnership | $34,226 | $19,354 | -43.5% |
| Edwina E Moreland Realty Trust | $17,503 | $8,978 | -48.7% |
| National Audubon Society, Inc. | $7 | $6,643 | 94,800% |
| Charles a Destival | $5,558 | $5,558 | 0% |
| Sharon Hamby O'Connor Revocable Trust | $0 | $4,795 | -- |
| George W. Klug | $8,965 | $4,485 | -50% |
| Kalenauskas Farm, LLC | $11,792 | $4,114 | -65.1% |
| Daniel Carr | $0 | $2,119 | -- |
| Ox Hollow Farm, LLC | $34,672 | $1,483 | -95.7% |
| Weigold Farms, LLP | $59,159 | $1,465 | -97.5% |
| Rosamond G. Quay | $1,194 | $888 | -25.6% |
| John Bottass | $5,475 | $860 | -84.3% |
| William M. Weed | $0 | $723 | -- |
| James Wargo | $0 | $423 | -- |
| Wild Carrot Farm, LLC | $14,805 | $350 | -97.6% |
| Wisdom House Retreat & Conference Center | $0 | $288 | -- |
| David Slipke | $153 | $224 | 46.4% |
| Tilden Southack | $176 | $208 | 18.2% |
| Woodbury Sugar Shed, Inc. | $51,819 | $184 | -99.6% |
| John H. Kimberly | $13,580 | $79 | -99.4% |
| Christine E. Smith | $105 | $0 | -100% |
| Hazon, Inc. | $3,949 | $0 | -100% |
| R Allen Cockerline | $481 | $0 | -100% |
| Sharon Hamby O'Connor Revocable T | $8,614 | $0 | -100% |
| Laurel Ridge Farm, LLC | $8,067 | $0 | -100% |
| Raymond Damiani | $13,567 | $0 | -100% |
| Douglas Baldwin | $291 | $0 | -100% |
| Fort Hill Farm, LLC | $59,492 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeremy Thomas Schulz | $8,546 | $0 | -100% |
| David M Blyn | $37,668 | $0 | -100% |
| John Vincent Bottass | $969 | $0 | -100% |
| Paley's Farm & Garden Center, LLC | $36,094 | $0 | -100% |
| Ruth Faris Drew Irrevocable Trust | $2,258 | $0 | -100% |
| Curtis Ek | $235 | $0 | -100% |
| Erin Krystine Horanzy Ruwet | $17,585 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael E. Birden | $10,835 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas J. Truelove | $6,334 | $0 | -100% |
| Terry M. Tanner | $665 | $0 | -100% |
| Anna K. Jedd | $280 | $0 | -100% |
| Karen's Lambs, LLC | $12,955 | $0 | -100% |
| Carol Heuschkel | $119 | $0 | -100% |
| Yohance Martin | $10,714 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $1,062,159 | $309,046 | -70.9% |
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