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In 2021, 54 farmers in cities within Nevada County received a total of $341,714 in 79 farm subsidies, a 47.3% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $648,625 in 128 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy A. Reid | $55,391 | $32,029 | -42.2% |
| Robert James Thompson | $17,366 | $31,420 | 80.9% |
| Antonio Garza | $0 | $24,128 | -- |
| David Bartow | $34,463 | $21,628 | -37.2% |
| Jeremy Mineau | $0 | $18,301 | -- |
| Larsen Family Ranch, LLC | $15,992 | $17,064 | 6.7% |
| Gary Alexander | $73,764 | $15,938 | -78.4% |
| Mccaffree Logging, Inc. | $0 | $15,228 | -- |
| Gregory Rounds | $0 | $14,475 | -- |
| Carl Rounds | $39,160 | $12,410 | -68.3% |
| Frank J Aquino Family Trust | $10,244 | $10,804 | 5.5% |
| Robert W Harris | $10,376 | $10,505 | 1.2% |
| Alana Fowler | $26,267 | $9,527 | -63.7% |
| Elise D Aquino Marital Trust | $8,047 | $8,488 | 5.5% |
| Mark C. Andreotti | $50,284 | $8,179 | -83.7% |
| Kurts Garden, Inc. | $0 | $7,458 | -- |
| Robert R Harris Livestock | $8,186 | $6,014 | -26.5% |
| Nancy Krekorian | $6,143 | $5,948 | -3.2% |
| Michael Blagg | $25,975 | $5,533 | -78.7% |
| David Sklar | $0 | $5,132 | -- |
| Katina Carter | $0 | $4,279 | -- |
| Jane A. De'Zell | $4,185 | $4,185 | 0% |
| Ronald D. Youngman | $5,489 | $4,170 | -24% |
| John Reader | $11,990 | $4,127 | -65.6% |
| Thomas W Nichols JR Trust | $0 | $3,939 | -- |
| Cody Dorris | $10,911 | $3,462 | -68.3% |
| Joshua T. Hoyer | $3,189 | $3,189 | 0% |
| The Ringen Family 1992 Trust May 24, 2012 | $0 | $3,107 | -- |
| Mark Prechter | $7,095 | $2,991 | -57.8% |
| Thomas S. Kaminski | $2,613 | $2,613 | 0% |
| Roberto Cicogni | $2,772 | $2,292 | -17.3% |
| Thomas Nichols III | $5,644 | $2,068 | -63.4% |
| James Franks | $8,902 | $2,055 | -76.9% |
| Thomas T. Joaquin Jr. | $32,281 | $2,037 | -93.7% |
| B Dale & Lauralie E Depriest Trust | $0 | $1,917 | -- |
| Greg Notas | $2,541 | $1,576 | -38% |
| Louise Walls Dearing | $1,504 | $1,504 | 0% |
| Joseph & Donna Torres Living Trustee | $2,139 | $1,457 | -31.9% |
| Jeane R Michioka | $1,283 | $1,443 | 12.5% |
| Hall Family Minnesota, LLC | $8,338 | $1,416 | -83% |
| Meghan Grace Nichols Family Rev Trust | $0 | $1,198 | -- |
| Donna Ryan | $1,114 | $1,114 | 0% |
| Joseph Beauchamp | $0 | $770 | -- |
| Stewart James Gray | $0 | $764 | -- |
| TRI Fold, LLC | $2,014 | $641 | -68.2% |
| Glenn A. Nader | $482 | $567 | 17.6% |
| Kevin C. Allen | $831 | $523 | -37.1% |
| Donald T Huber Trust | $1,409 | $495 | -64.9% |
| Robert Blehm | $577 | $455 | -21.1% |
| Angela Marie Lohman | $3,465 | $419 | -87.9% |
| Janice D. Moule | $360 | $273 | -24.2% |
| Freedom Farm | $1,847 | $158 | -91.4% |
| Henry M. Davidson | $354 | $151 | -57.3% |
| Gregory Thrush | $87 | $150 | 72.4% |
| B Dale & Lauralie E Depriest Trus | $1,917 | $0 | -100% |
| Barbara C. Pascoe | $2,640 | $0 | -100% |
| Brand Little | $19,854 | $0 | -100% |
| Carol J. Kramer | $200 | $0 | -100% |
| Hidden River Ranch, LLC | $35,609 | $0 | -100% |
| Griggs Family LP | $12,997 | $0 | -100% |
| Soil Sisters Farm | $3,204 | $0 | -100% |
| Tim van Wagner | $13,330 | $0 | -100% |
| Wingfield Honey Company | $6,269 | $0 | -100% |
| Lua-Herman Family Trust | $192 | $0 | -100% |
| MTA Orchards, LLC | $25,142 | $0 | -100% |
| The Ringen Family 1992 Trust May | $4,046 | $0 | -100% |
| Wayne Anderson | $1,719 | $0 | -100% |
| Wayne Anderson Estate | $4,280 | $0 | -100% |
| Theresa Vojtech | $769 | $0 | -100% |
| 2004 Harry and Nancy Smith Revocable Trust - Nancy Smith | $616 | $0 | -100% |
| Duane Meier | $8,189 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael W. Finney | $2,578 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $648,625 | $341,714 | -47.3% |
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