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In 2021, 44 farmers in cities within McKean County received a total of $593,897 in 70 farm subsidies, a 77.2% increase from 2020, when the total was $335,112 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asel Enterprises, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Gary T Rossman Logging | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Jason R. Payne | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Michael J Kocjancic Trucking, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Northwest Logging, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Wahlberg Limited, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Todd Smith Logging, Inc. | $0 | $31,987 | -- |
| Mr. Bruce W. Miles | $38,135 | $30,940 | -18.9% |
| James M. Detrick | $28,604 | $26,439 | -7.6% |
| Carlson Logging | $0 | $19,800 | -- |
| Karl Larson | $30,492 | $18,758 | -38.5% |
| Alan K. Kinney | $16,550 | $18,503 | 11.8% |
| Llewellyn Courtright | $8,838 | $17,171 | 94.3% |
| Greendale Farms, LLC | $1,568 | $16,196 | 932.9% |
| Kevin L. Dibble | $30,628 | $15,562 | -49.2% |
| Daniel P Ohara Trucking | $0 | $13,412 | -- |
| David L Lantz Trucking, Inc. | $0 | $13,242 | -- |
| Matis Farm, LLC | $28,865 | $11,470 | -60.3% |
| Larson Farms Family Limited Partnership | $0 | $5,262 | -- |
| Ward Tanner Jr. | $5,490 | $5,243 | -4.5% |
| Ward a Tanner SR Estate | $4,377 | $4,377 | 0% |
| Clay Acres | $43,073 | $3,713 | -91.4% |
| Charles Miller | $2,994 | $2,994 | 0% |
| Howardson Farms | $2,401 | $2,314 | -3.6% |
| Rodney W. Howard | $1,779 | $2,260 | 27% |
| Sterlyng Green, LLC | $3,569 | $1,947 | -45.4% |
| James A. Acker | $1,761 | $1,761 | 0% |
| Daniel J. Shetler | $4,033 | $1,688 | -58.1% |
| Bonnie L. Swinehart | $1,503 | $1,503 | 0% |
| Joseph R. Martin | $1,402 | $1,402 | 0% |
| Gene H. Mantz | $7,368 | $1,379 | -81.3% |
| Laverne R. Howard | $1,030 | $1,030 | 0% |
| Allen Long | $938 | $938 | 0% |
| Elzy D. Younkins | $819 | $819 | 0% |
| Gary Isadore | $552 | $813 | 47.3% |
| David Peterson | $633 | $734 | 16% |
| Gary H. Seefeldt | $3,489 | $672 | -80.7% |
| Shawn P. Baker | $0 | $566 | -- |
| Gregory E. Kutz | $506 | $506 | 0% |
| The Johnson Farm | $0 | $350 | -- |
| Kurt T. Weaver | $268 | $268 | 0% |
| Elmer Eugene Knauer | $16,487 | $254 | -98.5% |
| Jeff Chubon | $1,470 | $210 | -85.7% |
| Nancy Ann Crissman | $345 | $164 | -52.5% |
| Joseph a Krompasky | $156 | $0 | -100% |
| Mary Kay Hilyer | $244 | $0 | -100% |
| Gerald Hazen | $920 | $0 | -100% |
| James G Boorum | $72 | $0 | -100% |
| Jerry L. Goodrich | $2,117 | $0 | -100% |
| Michele M. Wooten | $1,612 | $0 | -100% |
| Neal D. Gordon | $7 | $0 | -100% |
| Stephen A. Bonser | $264 | $0 | -100% |
| Clarence M. Gregory | $5,162 | $0 | -100% |
| James Tanner | $290 | $0 | -100% |
| Larson Farms Family Limited Partn | $29,531 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert Cosper Jr. | $4,770 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $335,112 | $593,897 | 77.2% |
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