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In 2021, 66 farmers in cities within Delta County received a total of $990,222 in 122 farm subsidies, a 27.4% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $1.4 million in 190 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Drese Farms | $182,538 | $57,894 | -68.3% |
| Joe Plourde & Son Forest Products, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| R & H Logging, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Roy a Nelson Jr. & Son Forest Products, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Kevin Gartland | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Michael Leckson & Son Trucking, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| R & R Timber Products, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Gudwer Forest Products, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Joseph Bugay | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Lafleur Forest Products, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Hughes Maple Leaf Farm, LLC | $90,376 | $52,368 | -42.1% |
| Brian Johnston Trucking | $0 | $48,972 | -- |
| John Gillis | $0 | $28,127 | -- |
| William H. Johnson | $50,608 | $27,869 | -44.9% |
| Casperson Logging, Inc. | $0 | $22,854 | -- |
| Tony and Wendy Beauchamp Forest Product Trucking, Inc. | $0 | $21,865 | -- |
| John Charles Trucking, Inc. | $0 | $19,808 | -- |
| Hanson Seed Farm, LLC | $304,021 | $19,275 | -93.7% |
| Michael D. Latulip | $0 | $17,318 | -- |
| Richard Robert Fox | $8,232 | $16,377 | 98.9% |
| Englund Trucking, Inc. | $0 | $15,081 | -- |
| Duane Marenger | $22,639 | $12,835 | -43.3% |
| Verbrigghe Potato Farm | $276,188 | $12,173 | -95.6% |
| A. J. Mathias & Son, LLC | $0 | $11,930 | -- |
| John a Rappette | $17,156 | $11,259 | -34.4% |
| Daniel Harlow Dalgord | $38,705 | $9,334 | -75.9% |
| Ronald J. Collins | $24,364 | $8,415 | -65.5% |
| Lucas Farms, LLC | $15,732 | $7,569 | -51.9% |
| Dennis Becker | $9,282 | $7,251 | -21.9% |
| Herman Robere | $9,367 | $7,038 | -24.9% |
| Miron and Son Dairy Farm | $13,035 | $5,924 | -54.6% |
| Kevin T. Klink | $16,050 | $5,627 | -64.9% |
| Timothy Kinsey | $22,013 | $5,626 | -74.4% |
| Rocky Ridge Dairy Farm, Inc. | $10,369 | $5,330 | -48.6% |
| James Dalgord | $16,534 | $4,346 | -73.7% |
| William J. la Tulip | $16,107 | $3,979 | -75.3% |
| Michael J. Lang | $11,813 | $3,617 | -69.4% |
| Neil C Van Drese | $7,686 | $3,556 | -53.7% |
| Wendy Cay Fox | $8,230 | $3,177 | -61.4% |
| Jerry J. Debacker | $17,089 | $3,100 | -81.9% |
| Alfred Gareau | $7,848 | $3,022 | -61.5% |
| Donald J. Nault | $9,474 | $2,893 | -69.5% |
| Thomas J Ranguette | $0 | $2,821 | -- |
| Barron Farms | $7,780 | $2,734 | -64.9% |
| Matt Guindon | $9,765 | $2,480 | -74.6% |
| Levi John Tatrow | $0 | $1,968 | -- |
| Kelli M. Stapleton | $8,569 | $1,891 | -77.9% |
| Alan Spaulding | $11,825 | $1,798 | -84.8% |
| Mark Edward Guertin | $0 | $1,762 | -- |
| James J. Barron | $5,630 | $1,579 | -72% |
| Nicholas J Quaghebeur | $3,594 | $1,494 | -58.4% |
| Lancour Farms | $2,391 | $1,454 | -39.2% |
| Nora Viau | $9,527 | $1,392 | -85.4% |
| Joshua J. Saez | $8,496 | $1,261 | -85.2% |
| Nicholas a Dalgord | $15,019 | $1,069 | -92.9% |
| David Pellegrini | $34,356 | $997 | -97.1% |
| Gail Bennett | $4,316 | $961 | -77.7% |
| John E. Denholm | $2,454 | $947 | -61.4% |
| Lesley Stewart | $682 | $513 | -24.8% |
| Michigan State University | $500 | $500 | 0% |
| Jesse A. Randall | $444 | $444 | 0% |
| Billiejean Horrocks | $4,545 | $418 | -90.8% |
| Howard W. Willyard | $46 | $21 | -54.3% |
| Mark William Frazer | $0 | $20 | -- |
| Sandra Debacker | $537 | $10 | -98.1% |
| Debra Debacker | $127 | $4 | -96.9% |
| Linda van Damme | $1,237 | $0 | -100% |
| Bruce J. Lippens | $13,290 | $0 | -100% |
| Donald Anderson | $1,299 | $0 | -100% |
| Tonya Lafave | $850 | $0 | -100% |
| Bertrand M Lordson | $11,319 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $1,364,054 | $990,222 | -27.4% |
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