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In 2021, 21 farmers in cities within Ulster County received a total of $117,491 in 23 farm subsidies, a 94.2% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $2 million in 64 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gopal Farm, LLC | $0 | $37,498 | -- |
| Shannon Ryan | $0 | $26,502 | -- |
| Tongore Brook Farm, LLC | $0 | $11,624 | -- |
| Old Ford Farm, LLC | $0 | $9,737 | -- |
| Twin Star Orchards, LLC | $0 | $6,111 | -- |
| Saunderskill Farms, LLC | $12,879 | $4,901 | -61.9% |
| Back Home Farm, LLC | $0 | $4,664 | -- |
| George W. Larrabee III | $0 | $4,328 | -- |
| Timothy Brooks | $0 | $2,755 | -- |
| Heldron Heldron and Mahoney | $5,914 | $2,351 | -60.2% |
| Transgenerational Farm, LLC | $0 | $1,272 | -- |
| Katherine Chiu | $0 | $1,244 | -- |
| Huguenot St. Farm, LLC | $7,733 | $1,212 | -84.3% |
| Raymond Bradley | $0 | $1,107 | -- |
| M G Hurd & Sons, Inc. | $360,813 | $500 | -99.9% |
| Sandra Fink | $1,259 | $478 | -62% |
| Flowering Sun Farm and Center, LLC | $0 | $425 | -- |
| Kelders Farm, LLC | $34,480 | $299 | -99.1% |
| Lemard Mays JR | $476 | $238 | -50% |
| Shirley Witherspoon | $455 | $225 | -50.5% |
| Harry Hansen | $404 | $20 | -95% |
| Barton Brooks | $574 | $0 | -100% |
| Bell's Christmas Trees, LLC | $9,656 | $0 | -100% |
| Donald S. Rider | $461 | $0 | -100% |
| MJM Forages, LLC | $23 | $0 | -100% |
| Wayne Brooks | $376 | $0 | -100% |
| Aileah Kvashay | $3,139 | $0 | -100% |
| Donna Marie Spano | $5,698 | $0 | -100% |
| Norman Green | $461 | $0 | -100% |
| 6 Nightingale Road, LLC | $1,276 | $0 | -100% |
| Borchert Orchards, Inc. | $154,958 | $0 | -100% |
| Greiner Bros Farm, Inc. | $148,315 | $0 | -100% |
| Porpiglia Farms, Inc. | $702,339 | $0 | -100% |
| Truncali Farms, Inc. | $91,742 | $0 | -100% |
| Weed Farms Pick Your OWN, LLC | $54,794 | $0 | -100% |
| Weed Orchards, LLC | $8,825 | $0 | -100% |
| Wise Weasel Farm, LLC | $1,884 | $0 | -100% |
| Dressel Farms, LLC | $212,021 | $0 | -100% |
| Million Dollar Farm, Ltd. | $480 | $0 | -100% |
| Phillies Bridge Farm Project, Inc. | $7,654 | $0 | -100% |
| Wallkill View Farm, LLC | $85,302 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert Petras | $8 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel Maier | $262 | $0 | -100% |
| J Van Duser Farms, Inc. | $93,453 | $0 | -100% |
| Watchtower Bible & Tract Society | $3,454 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $2,011,568 | $117,491 | -94.2% |
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