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In 2021, 51 farmers in cities within Winchester city received a total of $209,249 in 76 farm subsidies, an 87.1% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $1.6 million in 151 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Oaks Farm, LLC | $409,373 | $38,878 | -90.5% |
| Woodbine Farms, Inc. | $280,006 | $16,225 | -94.2% |
| Robert Boyd JR | $32,637 | $12,007 | -63.2% |
| Mid Atlantic Farm Credit Aca | $184,289 | $11,499 | -93.8% |
| Gregory W. Hewitt | $42,508 | $10,745 | -74.7% |
| Joseph E. Marple | $0 | $10,014 | -- |
| Robert W. Snapp | $32,087 | $9,487 | -70.4% |
| James Russell Dehaven Sr. | $0 | $8,901 | -- |
| Charles Dehaven Jr. | $43,043 | $8,466 | -80.3% |
| The Briede Family Vineyards, LLC | $0 | $7,439 | -- |
| Pine Hill Farm, LLC | $10,105 | $7,245 | -28.3% |
| Arlan Robert Whitacre | $31,658 | $6,746 | -78.7% |
| Daniel R. Denson | $15,228 | $6,396 | -58% |
| Meadow Brook Farm & Orchard, Inc. | $14,458 | $6,310 | -56.4% |
| Robert Sutphin | $6,638 | $4,002 | -39.7% |
| Mary M Hagerty Trust | $2,947 | $3,909 | 32.6% |
| Kernstown Battlefield Association | $3,838 | $3,838 | 0% |
| John Fehr | $3,254 | $3,056 | -6.1% |
| Bee Tree Farms, LLC | $9,185 | $2,771 | -69.8% |
| Jerome Prokop Jr. | $11,789 | $2,764 | -76.6% |
| Keith Lineweaver | $17,647 | $2,670 | -84.9% |
| Tammy Lynn Unger | $4,191 | $2,366 | -43.5% |
| Cyle Lewis Dehaven | $0 | $1,760 | -- |
| Ralph Aaron Stickman Jr. | $4,813 | $1,695 | -64.8% |
| John E Venskoske SR | $5,009 | $1,666 | -66.7% |
| Vernon Wright | $8,049 | $1,557 | -80.7% |
| Margaret Teresa Batchelor Estate | $0 | $1,266 | -- |
| Charles W. Sutphin | $1,235 | $1,235 | 0% |
| George James Kriz | $1,196 | $1,196 | 0% |
| David E. Mitchell | $3,527 | $1,122 | -68.2% |
| Kitty B Hockman Ta Hedgebrook Farm | $0 | $1,120 | -- |
| William M. Hulver | $6,644 | $1,095 | -83.5% |
| Samuel P. Leinbach | $1,066 | $1,066 | 0% |
| Charles Currence | $3,522 | $983 | -72.1% |
| Stephen B. Qualls | $13,760 | $918 | -93.3% |
| Jeremy R. Denson | $19,052 | $806 | -95.8% |
| Steven W. Whetzel | $3,487 | $766 | -78% |
| Michael Graham Clowser | $4,432 | $658 | -85.2% |
| Clifton E. Lemarr | $3,193 | $592 | -81.5% |
| Julius Overbeck | $1,436 | $552 | -61.6% |
| Douglas E. Dailey | $2,685 | $509 | -81% |
| Raymond E. Meyer | $495 | $495 | 0% |
| James A. Drown | $418 | $418 | 0% |
| Barbara Utz | $835 | $384 | -54% |
| James S. Easom | $371 | $371 | 0% |
| Glen-Mar Farms | $370 | $370 | 0% |
| Evan Joseph Lineweaver | $1,940 | $335 | -82.7% |
| Willilam Jason Hummer | $1,433 | $253 | -82.3% |
| Rhoda W. Kriz | $174 | $174 | 0% |
| Ian Thomas McMillan | $313 | $128 | -59.1% |
| Sandra L. Reid | $84 | $25 | -70.2% |
| Arne & Joyce Skedsvold Ranch Trus | $9,496 | $0 | -100% |
| Barbara Le Hays | $69 | $0 | -100% |
| Beulah Crick Trust | $448 | $0 | -100% |
| Carl L. Dehaven | $3,520 | $0 | -100% |
| Cloverdale Barn, LLC | $2,923 | $0 | -100% |
| David Eugene Whitacre | $694 | $0 | -100% |
| Fred Glaize L. Lc | $342,689 | $0 | -100% |
| Gary K. Oates | $6,490 | $0 | -100% |
| Hans R. Nydam | $1,100 | $0 | -100% |
| Huntover LP | $1,196 | $0 | -100% |
| John D. Sterle | $144 | $0 | -100% |
| Kitty B Hockman Ta Hedgebrook Far | $6,531 | $0 | -100% |
| Marshall J. Beverley Jr. | $73 | $0 | -100% |
| Mauzy, LLC | $3,605 | $0 | -100% |
| Shenandoah Valley Produce, LLC | $2,997 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $1,626,395 | $209,249 | -87.1% |
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