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In 2021, 54 farmers in cities within Eagle County received a total of $849,858 in 86 farm subsidies, a 6.2% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $906,148 in 105 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerard Brothers Partnership, LLLP | $99,076 | $389,151 | 292.8% |
| Liberty Farms, Inc. | $524,800 | $97,084 | -81.5% |
| Raymond Horn Ranch Company | $72,621 | $86,371 | 18.9% |
| West Range Forest Products, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Sara Fitzsimmons | $12,892 | $32,880 | 155% |
| Salt Creek Farms, LLLP | $8,578 | $16,986 | 98% |
| West Lake Creek Company | $0 | $16,362 | -- |
| Jacob R. Roach | $12,651 | $13,625 | 7.7% |
| Justin L. Roach | $12,651 | $13,625 | 7.7% |
| Daniel L. Brunette | $12,806 | $13,433 | 4.9% |
| Ronald Chris Estes | $14,164 | $12,286 | -13.3% |
| Mike Luark | $0 | $11,773 | -- |
| Aisha Niehaus | $11,165 | $9,408 | -15.7% |
| Nick Sagar | $7,223 | $7,223 | 0% |
| O Warren Meyer Trust | $20,622 | $6,498 | -68.5% |
| Sandra Powell Brunette | $5,295 | $5,944 | 12.3% |
| Travis J. Davis | $6,120 | $5,834 | -4.7% |
| Thea -Thea J Rumford Living Trust Agreem Jean Rumford | $0 | $5,758 | -- |
| L Vaquero Ranch, LLC | $0 | $5,456 | -- |
| Darlane a Ruebsam | $3,973 | $3,973 | 0% |
| Glen Miller | $3,272 | $3,814 | 16.6% |
| Michael B. Eaton | $5,522 | $3,339 | -39.5% |
| Harry C Armstrong Residuary Trust | $368 | $3,015 | 719.3% |
| John J. O'Neill | $290 | $2,966 | 922.8% |
| Melinda Sonquist Gladitsch | $2,861 | $2,861 | 0% |
| Robert R. Blunk | $12,542 | $2,750 | -78.1% |
| Schlottmansabo, LLC | $2,187 | $2,022 | -7.5% |
| Lawrence Partnership | $7,887 | $1,969 | -75% |
| Lew-Fam Partners, LLC | $1,844 | $1,869 | 1.4% |
| William G Rodkey, DVM | $5,991 | $1,722 | -71.3% |
| Seago Livestock | $6,655 | $1,595 | -76% |
| Shelley Sharp-Lohrman | $1,197 | $1,552 | 29.7% |
| Edward J. Lawn | $1,365 | $1,365 | 0% |
| Segerberg and Company, LLC | $0 | $1,332 | -- |
| Phillip L Goyen Revocable Trust | $1,326 | $1,319 | -0.5% |
| Linda L. Wells | $1,022 | $1,022 | 0% |
| Teakwood Enterprises | $829 | $992 | 19.7% |
| Geddes Farms | $703 | $949 | 35% |
| Janessa Petermann | $893 | $893 | 0% |
| Beth Ann Lucas | $2,943 | $761 | -74.1% |
| Betsy S. Gilbert | $1,285 | $663 | -48.4% |
| Kathleen K Mckeeta | $650 | $650 | 0% |
| Lisa Siegert K. Free | $1,296 | $605 | -53.3% |
| Jeffry A. Brown | $1,058 | $518 | -51% |
| Mcnaught Farmland Trustee | $514 | $514 | 0% |
| High Counrty Kombucha | $500 | $500 | 0% |
| Stephen Hoppin | $866 | $373 | -56.9% |
| Nicki Celeste Strubi | $990 | $360 | -63.6% |
| Steven Widell | $884 | $275 | -68.9% |
| Gary Ray Miller | $660 | $263 | -60.2% |
| Berneice L Dewitt | $195 | $193 | -1% |
| Kammy Young | $0 | $189 | -- |
| Denny Zobrist | $541 | $95 | -82.4% |
| Sears Nebraska Farm LP | $0 | $8 | -- |
| Morgan Lynn Carroll | $595 | $0 | -100% |
| Chris J. Warner | $125 | $0 | -100% |
| Charlene Strate | $3,472 | $0 | -100% |
| Cherish L Nortje | $6,087 | $0 | -100% |
| Kurt a Segerberg | $1,895 | $0 | -100% |
| Travis J. Davis | $201 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $906,148 | $849,858 | -6.2% |
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