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In 2021, 64 farmers in cities within Clearwater County received a total of $659,809 in 93 farm subsidies, a 6.9% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $708,785 in 120 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danny and Donna Brown and Sons Joint Venture | $285,592 | $173,584 | -39.2% |
| Michael R. Jackson | $44,855 | $56,920 | 26.9% |
| Finke Logging Company, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Ken Miller Logging, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Bonner Construction, LLC | $0 | $45,920 | -- |
| Ken Miller Trucking, Inc. | $0 | $43,649 | -- |
| Simpson Farming, LLC | $65,780 | $40,448 | -38.5% |
| Lorena K. Thompson | $22,022 | $26,748 | 21.5% |
| Cory R. Brown | $31,480 | $19,156 | -39.1% |
| Derek Brown | $28,863 | $17,583 | -39.1% |
| Don Lathrop | $0 | $16,714 | -- |
| Lorna Irby-Inglet | $15,870 | $9,209 | -42% |
| Robert Inglet | $15,870 | $9,209 | -42% |
| Mike Bird | $21,553 | $7,084 | -67.1% |
| Tamara R. Trieb | $0 | $5,712 | -- |
| Roy Lacey | $25,219 | $5,575 | -77.9% |
| Hutchins 58 Ranch, LLC | $5,961 | $4,932 | -17.3% |
| Raymond Geidl | $4,544 | $4,544 | 0% |
| Tyler D. Larson | $3,457 | $4,024 | 16.4% |
| Shawnean T Larson | $3,512 | $4,013 | 14.3% |
| Randy Hollibaugh | $0 | $3,693 | -- |
| Jerry D. Moore | $4,052 | $3,324 | -18% |
| Linda R. Jackson | $12,157 | $2,965 | -75.6% |
| Leroy Praest | $5,554 | $2,961 | -46.7% |
| Belinda Praest | $1,436 | $2,757 | 92% |
| Virginia M. Frazier | $4,352 | $2,660 | -38.9% |
| Margo F. Anderson | $3,876 | $2,587 | -33.3% |
| Ben Joseph Salisbury | $4,169 | $2,566 | -38.5% |
| Ross A. Triplett | $4,747 | $2,448 | -48.4% |
| Douglas D. Towles | $10,464 | $2,338 | -77.7% |
| Howard E. Bird | $4,621 | $2,260 | -51.1% |
| Chuck Morris | $5,247 | $2,025 | -61.4% |
| Larry H. Schlader | $1,757 | $2,018 | 14.9% |
| Deyo Land and Timber, LLC | $3,952 | $1,976 | -50% |
| Mitchell Blake Jared | $0 | $1,925 | -- |
| Akerland Corporation | $3,927 | $1,846 | -53% |
| Nick Albers Nick & Jean Albers Rev Trustee | $1,736 | $1,736 | 0% |
| Sandra J Goffinet Trust | $3,848 | $1,658 | -56.9% |
| Terry Ann Christensen | $0 | $1,569 | -- |
| Marilyn Johnson | $6,765 | $1,430 | -78.9% |
| Mary Alice Hueth Estate | $7,092 | $1,380 | -80.5% |
| Stephen J. Brand | $1,918 | $1,254 | -34.6% |
| Dirk Ewing | $3,513 | $1,166 | -66.8% |
| Jerold L. Spencer | $2,473 | $1,074 | -56.6% |
| William H. White | $1,766 | $1,074 | -39.2% |
| Richard N. Miller | $779 | $779 | 0% |
| Beverly S. Bailey | $631 | $631 | 0% |
| Brent Carr | $0 | $614 | -- |
| Alan C. Morris | $8,818 | $580 | -93.4% |
| Leo E. Fitz Jr. | $0 | $524 | -- |
| Geidl Enterprises, LLC | $1,113 | $444 | -60.1% |
| Samantha Chase Brown | $2,137 | $430 | -79.9% |
| Norman D. Fitzsimmons | $682 | $378 | -44.6% |
| Michael J. Rukavina | $637 | $346 | -45.7% |
| Michael H. Mount | $534 | $284 | -46.8% |
| Ronald J. Larson | $0 | $283 | -- |
| Joe E. Yockey | $535 | $264 | -50.7% |
| Kirk D Gangewer | $459 | $246 | -46.4% |
| Bill Webster | $385 | $204 | -47% |
| Joni Jo Spencer | $389 | $193 | -50.4% |
| Rodney Bonner | $126 | $64 | -49.2% |
| Randy McKinnon | $365 | $31 | -91.5% |
| Gerry Armitage | $48 | $26 | -45.8% |
| Belding Enterprises, LLC | $40 | $24 | -40% |
| Dale Cox | $577 | $0 | -100% |
| Dale Praest | $3,413 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeannine D. Miller | $559 | $0 | -100% |
| Dirk R. Ewing | $610 | $0 | -100% |
| Reggear Tree Farms, LLC | $8,868 | $0 | -100% |
| Frankie P. Larson | $3,080 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $708,785 | $659,809 | -6.9% |
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