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In 2021, 46 farmers in cities within Schoharie County received a total of $1.1 million in 98 farm subsidies, a 46.9% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $2.1 million in 192 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDS Tillapaugh, LLC | $245,702 | $136,718 | -44.4% |
| Argus Acres, L.L.C. | $412,010 | $136,102 | -67% |
| Stanton Family Farm, LLC | $346,530 | $134,345 | -61.2% |
| Wayne L. Conard | $88,080 | $104,452 | 18.6% |
| Schultz Bros. Farm, Inc. | $163,588 | $95,287 | -41.8% |
| Slate Hill Dairy | $94,025 | $85,186 | -9.4% |
| A & H Forest Management, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Gardiner F. Salisbury | $40,967 | $33,199 | -19% |
| William M. Vetter | $28,820 | $31,143 | 8.1% |
| Harry C. Edsall Jr. | $24,719 | $29,962 | 21.2% |
| Kathlyn Peeke A. Craft | $33,215 | $26,019 | -21.7% |
| David Gaige | $28,113 | $24,495 | -12.9% |
| Dale Cleveland | $31,514 | $24,016 | -23.8% |
| John G. Woodbeck | $0 | $18,283 | -- |
| Clay Hill Farm, LLC | $3,201 | $13,880 | 333.6% |
| Marty's Land Improvements, Inc. | $0 | $13,788 | -- |
| Michael Crewell | $0 | $11,681 | -- |
| Highland Hollow Farm, LLC | $58,881 | $11,304 | -80.8% |
| Cynthia J. Hoffman | $16,376 | $10,261 | -37.3% |
| James Ronald Hoffman | $0 | $10,246 | -- |
| Boxer Ridge Farms, LLC | $14,121 | $8,665 | -38.6% |
| Amanda Terhune | $10,146 | $8,143 | -19.7% |
| Frank Johnson | $34,255 | $7,722 | -77.5% |
| Daniel Przysiecki | $64,310 | $7,559 | -88.2% |
| Richard D. Gaige Jr. | $25,291 | $7,264 | -71.3% |
| Wendy S. Ouellette | $11,750 | $6,832 | -41.9% |
| Kenyon R. Parsons | $415 | $6,200 | 1,394% |
| Timothy Everett | $23,546 | $6,076 | -74.2% |
| Bison Island, LLC | $0 | $5,795 | -- |
| Frank Youngs | $11,264 | $4,065 | -63.9% |
| James W. Saddlemire | $9,523 | $4,050 | -57.5% |
| Ginelle Przysiecki | $15,377 | $4,023 | -73.8% |
| Lizza's Valley View Farm, LLC | $13,844 | $4,016 | -71% |
| Osborne Family Farm, LLC | $74,912 | $3,756 | -95% |
| Stanley J. Marshall | $5,282 | $3,686 | -30.2% |
| Daniel Youngs | $8,030 | $2,905 | -63.8% |
| William Vetter Jr. | $5,854 | $2,615 | -55.3% |
| Richard Benninger | $0 | $2,274 | -- |
| Terry L. Davis | $5,464 | $1,555 | -71.5% |
| Duncan W. Schanz | $0 | $1,045 | -- |
| Edward C. Sisson | $535 | $977 | 82.6% |
| Raymond Luhrman | $16,103 | $952 | -94.1% |
| Wellington's Herbs and Spices | $0 | $755 | -- |
| The Sharon Springs Granola Company, LLC | $0 | $482 | -- |
| Joseph J Durma | $2,007 | $364 | -81.9% |
| Tyler Larkin | $0 | $287 | -- |
| Adam Hay | $5,181 | $0 | -100% |
| Joseph Sisson | $65 | $0 | -100% |
| Phyllis Sisson | $65 | $0 | -100% |
| David a Raylinsky JR | $679 | $0 | -100% |
| Farm Service Agency/Commodity CRE | $24,311 | $0 | -100% |
| Frances V. Parsons | $102 | $0 | -100% |
| Joan Khouzam Roberts | $442 | $0 | -100% |
| Marty's Land Improvements D, Inc. | $28,938 | $0 | -100% |
| Paul C. Nelson | $533 | $0 | -100% |
| Regina Embler | $2,218 | $0 | -100% |
| Argus Acres, LLC | $8,702 | $0 | -100% |
| James R. Hoffman | $16,187 | $0 | -100% |
| Peter L. Hansen | $15,348 | $0 | -100% |
| The Sharon Springs Granola Compan | $750 | $0 | -100% |
| Leo Siemion Jr. | $1,208 | $0 | -100% |
| Russell Michasiow | $8,234 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $2,080,733 | $1,105,305 | -46.9% |
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