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In 2021, 42 farmers in cities within Hancock County received a total of $152,302 in 64 farm subsidies, a 51% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $310,849 in 115 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Feilmeier | $0 | $58,012 | -- |
| Chip Moran Jr. | $106,029 | $28,546 | -73.1% |
| Gdan Farms | $30,306 | $14,501 | -52.2% |
| Thomas J Koenenn | $11,528 | $5,690 | -50.6% |
| Florence M. Wyly | $5,163 | $5,163 | 0% |
| James Douglas Candebat JR | $27,121 | $3,856 | -85.8% |
| Philip E. Moran | $4,426 | $3,768 | -14.9% |
| Peggy J. Tedford | $2,909 | $2,909 | 0% |
| Keith Meranto | $8,921 | $2,538 | -71.6% |
| William Hill H. Tr Jr. | $11,347 | $2,455 | -78.4% |
| Anita Hebert | $5,775 | $2,434 | -57.9% |
| Winton A. Ladner | $1,485 | $2,352 | 58.4% |
| Paul Olige Necaise | $12,193 | $2,193 | -82% |
| Maurice L. Necaise II | $5,717 | $1,619 | -71.7% |
| Michael P. Sullivan | $0 | $1,485 | -- |
| Mark Wade Ladner | $7,307 | $1,297 | -82.2% |
| James B. Ladner | $3,875 | $1,047 | -73% |
| Coy Douglas McKay | $2,472 | $981 | -60.3% |
| Carol Hill | $4,703 | $956 | -79.7% |
| Sunset Cattle Company, LLC | $4,609 | $914 | -80.2% |
| Ryder J. Ladner | $8,799 | $900 | -89.8% |
| Helen D. Robles | $1,135 | $881 | -22.4% |
| Oliver A. Moran | $1,650 | $827 | -49.9% |
| Shane Joseph Ladner | $1,551 | $777 | -49.9% |
| Bobby E. Gibson | $764 | $764 | 0% |
| Thomas J Koenenn II | $3,047 | $640 | -79% |
| Denise B. Blount | $1,186 | $530 | -55.3% |
| Tony W. Ladner | $1,892 | $488 | -74.2% |
| Elliott C. Necaise | $7,244 | $444 | -93.9% |
| Jamie M. Ladner | $1,985 | $413 | -79.2% |
| Warren L. Moran | $847 | $379 | -55.3% |
| Janice a Disciscio | $2,147 | $376 | -82.5% |
| Greg A. Ladner | $1,815 | $342 | -81.2% |
| Darryl John Malley | $2,261 | $304 | -86.6% |
| Darren D. Hoda | $726 | $298 | -59% |
| Jerry L. Ladner | $0 | $275 | -- |
| Erin L. Haynes | $75 | $265 | 253.3% |
| Christopher Ray Necaise | $1,249 | $218 | -82.5% |
| Jean S. Scafide | $300 | $160 | -46.7% |
| Amanda D. McKay | $799 | $132 | -83.5% |
| Douglas E. Bourgeois Jr. | $506 | $108 | -78.7% |
| Lady Anne S. Bruce | $65 | $65 | 0% |
| Bernadette Smith L. Hanson | $738 | $0 | -100% |
| Kathleen D. Taylor | $2,323 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert Wright | $1,831 | $0 | -100% |
| Rex W. McMinn | $1,032 | $0 | -100% |
| Heavenly Grace Farm, LLC | $505 | $0 | -100% |
| Hunter Harrison Haas | $901 | $0 | -100% |
| Joann Ladner | $1,425 | $0 | -100% |
| Kim L. Ladner | $495 | $0 | -100% |
| The Estate of Anita Hebert | $4,785 | $0 | -100% |
| Susan Broom Gibson | $885 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $310,849 | $152,302 | -51% |
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