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Did farm subsidies in Penfield rise or fall in 2021?
In 2021, 69 farmers in Penfield received a total of $1 million in 170 farm subsidies, a 46.4% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $2 million in 315 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 lead 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 | Subsidy Received in 2021 | Subsidy Received in 2020 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey G. Suits | $86,600 | $193,560 | -55.3% |
| Larry J. Roberts | $76,478 | $193,471 | -60.5% |
| Richard Rademacher | $75,882 | $92,247 | -17.7% |
| John Michael Gordon | $63,794 | $61,860 | 3.1% |
| Charles Hedrick | $59,279 | $51,187 | 15.8% |
| Roy Johnson | $47,561 | $67,988 | -30% |
| Daniel R. Hesterberg | $46,961 | $64,627 | -27.3% |
| Dallas Osterbur | $45,901 | $115,338 | -60.2% |
| Tyler Babb | $41,865 | $79,831 | -47.6% |
| Daniel J. Cain | $38,636 | $106,191 | -63.6% |
| Michael Babb | $30,959 | $113,385 | -72.7% |
| Eldred J. Cornelius | $30,243 | $59,173 | -48.9% |
| Norbert Huls | $23,969 | $60,890 | -60.6% |
| Tony Michael Gordon Revocable Trust | $23,403 | $11,670 | 100.5% |
| Steve Williams | $22,917 | $32,696 | -29.9% |
| Harlin G Park | $19,615 | $16,252 | 20.7% |
| Brenda Learned | $19,590 | $19,198 | 2% |
| Harold Williams | $18,281 | $23,759 | -23.1% |
| Gregory M. Whalen | $18,120 | $36,778 | -50.7% |
| Eric J. Suits | $17,861 | $24,285 | -26.5% |
| Gerald Roberts | $15,951 | $41,952 | -62% |
| Hillary A. Hannagan | $15,583 | $33,627 | -53.7% |
| Leon Sieberns | $15,432 | $30,972 | -50.2% |
| Judith C Park | $13,176 | $34,411 | -61.7% |
| Rosetta Suits | $12,151 | $24,120 | -49.6% |
| Kimberly Matthis | $11,724 | $9,164 | 27.9% |
| Kenneth E Suits Family Trust | $11,151 | $22,631 | -50.7% |
| Carolyn L. Frerichs | $10,699 | $10,699 | 0% |
| I and I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club | $9,923 | $28,466 | -65.1% |
| Mary Janice Hannagan | $9,494 | $7,330 | 29.5% |
| Gary Frerichs | $8,171 | $31,376 | -74% |
| Lawrence a Gordon Trust | $8,108 | $3,773 | 114.9% |
| Gordon Hedrick | $7,814 | $22,152 | -64.7% |
| Robert E. Miles | $7,465 | $15,221 | -51% |
| Michael D. Schluter | $7,411 | $26,648 | -72.2% |
| Duane Schluter | $7,145 | $31,978 | -77.7% |
| Hood Family Rvoc Living Trustee | $4,864 | $18,995 | -74.4% |
| Larry Pruiett | $4,746 | $4,746 | 0% |
| Blake Hedrick | $4,736 | $8,411 | -43.7% |
| Evan R. Suits | $4,390 | $24,748 | -82.3% |
| Chris W. Magrini | $4,347 | $4,347 | 0% |
| Phillip C Dorsey - Phillip C Dorsey Self Decl of | $4,224 | $4,224 | 0% |
| Cody Frerichs | $4,182 | $1,980 | 111.2% |
| Kalin Kocher | $3,869 | $9,016 | -57.1% |
| Michael Pflugmacher | $3,038 | $12,875 | -76.4% |
| Michele K. Babb | $2,922 | $393 | 643.5% |
| Larry Frerichs | $2,692 | $10,726 | -74.9% |
| Jeffrey Matthis | $2,561 | $0 | -- |
| Karen Pruiett | $2,115 | $2,115 | 0% |
| Marilyn B. Killion | $1,944 | $6,374 | -69.5% |
| Mary J. Hedrick | $1,921 | $5,933 | -67.6% |
| Melissa Suits | $1,747 | $5,384 | -67.6% |
| John R. Johnson | $1,657 | $4,411 | -62.4% |
| Jordan Rademacher | $1,497 | $1,240 | 20.7% |
| Pauline K. Lefever | $1,408 | $2,512 | -43.9% |
| Peggy a Park | $941 | $3,036 | -69% |
| Daniel M. Gordon | $855 | $855 | 0% |
| Justin Rademacher | $779 | $3,534 | -78% |
| Todd Park | $765 | $2,639 | -71% |
| Melanie Sieberns | $762 | $3,979 | -80.8% |
| Derek W Sieberns | $761 | $1,907 | -60.1% |
| Eunice Frerichs | $746 | $2,051 | -63.6% |
| Charles Ehmen | $289 | $917 | -68.5% |
| Eileen Jarboe Trust | $264 | $264 | 0% |
| Michael Jarboe Trust | $264 | $264 | 0% |
| Robert Rawlings | $250 | $955 | -73.8% |
| Ranae Ault | $148 | $0 | -- |
| Angela K Bensyl | $85 | $65 | 30.8% |
| Nancy K. Leath | $49 | $37 | 32.4% |
| Doris J. Frerichs | $0 | $1,233 | -100% |
| Tracy Hedrick | $0 | $1,922 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $1,045,131 | $1,950,994 | -46.4% |