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In 2021, 34 farmers in cities within Saratoga County received a total of $1.2 million in 59 farm subsidies, a 79.2% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $6 million in 127 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Stock Farm, LLC | $838,754 | $266,344 | -68.2% |
| Hanehan Family Dairy, LLC | $1,588,468 | $247,681 | -84.4% |
| Kings-Ransom Farm, LLC | $856,543 | $188,371 | -78% |
| Turning Point Dairy, LLC | $829,694 | $147,143 | -82.3% |
| Clear Echo Farm, LLC | $480,238 | $144,478 | -69.9% |
| Richard Speidel | $38,163 | $65,275 | 71% |
| Christopher Korona | $53,247 | $47,100 | -11.5% |
| Barber Bros Dairy, LLC | $648,402 | $36,238 | -94.4% |
| Joann Bodnar | $23,744 | $18,926 | -20.3% |
| Thomas Poultry Farm, Inc. | $235,728 | $15,556 | -93.4% |
| Wilma Worsdell Remainder Trustee | $41,266 | $12,363 | -70% |
| Mary - Mary Kay Testa Revocable Trustee Dated Jan 29, 2 | $0 | $8,754 | -- |
| Francis Staucet | $8,732 | $8,732 | 0% |
| 15-99-35, LLC | $0 | $8,267 | -- |
| Smith Brothers Farms | $13,714 | $4,091 | -70.2% |
| Albert Larue | $8,662 | $3,746 | -56.8% |
| Jason Heitman | $0 | $2,868 | -- |
| 9 Miles East Farm, LLC | $5,327 | $2,148 | -59.7% |
| B & B Farms of Whitley County in, LLC | $5,006 | $1,995 | -60.1% |
| Buhrmaster Fruit & Produce, Inc. | $32,759 | $1,288 | -96.1% |
| Kyle Donnan | $4,608 | $1,103 | -76.1% |
| Edward J. Carr | $303 | $1,071 | 253.5% |
| Lloyd Gifford | $1,584 | $828 | -47.7% |
| David Garrison | $1,324 | $725 | -45.2% |
| Joshua Vincek | $9,445 | $724 | -92.3% |
| Janice R. Hite | $1,092 | $697 | -36.2% |
| Dorothea Miller H. Tr | $2,973 | $684 | -77% |
| Daniel Ims | $443 | $443 | 0% |
| David N. Disiena | $24,554 | $428 | -98.3% |
| John E. Weber Sr. | $0 | $424 | -- |
| Donald Butler | $4,373 | $387 | -91.2% |
| Theodore Hercamp | $2,316 | $377 | -83.7% |
| Cynthia A. Corbett | $209 | $246 | 17.7% |
| Peckhaven Farm | $36,853 | $26 | -99.9% |
| ELLMS Christmas Trees, LLC | $14,874 | $0 | -100% |
| ELLMS Family Farms, LLC | $30,994 | $0 | -100% |
| Lady Lilac Farm, LLC | $7,823 | $0 | -100% |
| David Oliker | $1,579 | $0 | -100% |
| Mary - Mary Kay Testa Revocable T | $15,775 | $0 | -100% |
| Peter Brooks | $1,769 | $0 | -100% |
| Vincent Krasuski Jr. | $468 | $0 | -100% |
| James Carpenter | $5,845 | $0 | -100% |
| Christina Scanlon Myers | $1,768 | $0 | -100% |
| Gobi, Inc. | $7,138 | $0 | -100% |
| Paul Brian Skarka | $11,835 | $0 | -100% |
| Saratoga Apple, Inc. | $54,299 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $5,952,691 | $1,239,527 | -79.2% |
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