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In 2021, 48 farmers in cities within Wakulla County received a total of $446,211 in 59 farm subsidies, a 66.5% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $1.3 million in 108 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven W. Whited | $53,554 | $53,189 | -0.7% |
| Michael Sorrell | $47,998 | $39,650 | -17.4% |
| Stingers Honey Company | $51,403 | $37,309 | -27.4% |
| Olin and Associates, LLC | $93,383 | $28,042 | -70% |
| Ronald H. Merritt | $39,485 | $26,137 | -33.8% |
| Bb's Apiaries, Inc. | $53,496 | $24,594 | -54% |
| Donald K. Clark Jr. | $17,600 | $17,600 | 0% |
| Gary J. Crum | $13,570 | $17,166 | 26.5% |
| Rena Crum | $26,541 | $16,136 | -39.2% |
| Tab Oysters, LLC | $28,640 | $15,274 | -46.7% |
| Langston's Honey, Inc. | $31,683 | $13,671 | -56.9% |
| L & L Oyster, LLC | $43,189 | $13,186 | -69.5% |
| T's Honey, LLC | $0 | $13,058 | -- |
| Linda's Apiaries, Inc. | $24,466 | $12,811 | -47.6% |
| Jacob G. Wilson | $19,594 | $11,733 | -40.1% |
| Eli Jim Wilson | $21,154 | $11,673 | -44.8% |
| Sarah Jo Shearer | $0 | $9,603 | -- |
| Stanley G. Wilson | $18,003 | $9,580 | -46.8% |
| Larry Bowen | $13,929 | $9,484 | -31.9% |
| Susie Bowen | $13,929 | $9,484 | -31.9% |
| Timothy Jordan | $28,376 | $7,064 | -75.1% |
| Specialty Metal Fabricators, Inc. | $7,038 | $7,038 | 0% |
| Lyudmila Melvin | $0 | $5,124 | -- |
| Stanley Travis Wilson | $7,111 | $4,324 | -39.2% |
| Wicked Oyster Company, LLC | $26,642 | $3,986 | -85% |
| Jeffrey Lawhon | $4,231 | $3,892 | -8% |
| Tommy C. Thomas | $8,448 | $3,350 | -60.3% |
| Charles F. Heydenreich | $3,332 | $3,332 | 0% |
| Timothy Olah | $4,191 | $2,002 | -52.2% |
| Daniel William Crowson | $0 | $1,869 | -- |
| Louis Owen Bellamy Jr. | $9,296 | $1,733 | -81.4% |
| Charles F. Heydenreich II | $1,572 | $1,572 | 0% |
| Edna S. Reams | $9,914 | $1,339 | -86.5% |
| Kenneth B. Weber | $1,285 | $1,285 | 0% |
| William D. Bartnick | $1,285 | $1,285 | 0% |
| Katie Deal | $1,211 | $1,211 | 0% |
| Craig A. Gowdy | $6,316 | $972 | -84.6% |
| Jimmy Lee Smith | $1,815 | $805 | -55.6% |
| Danny L. Bowen | $0 | $744 | -- |
| Jeff R. Bloodworth | $0 | $658 | -- |
| Cheryll Olah | $1,045 | $598 | -42.8% |
| Solid Rock Ranch, LLC | $6,832 | $593 | -91.3% |
| Mourey L. Bixler | $537 | $537 | 0% |
| Samuel J. Ash | $48,548 | $521 | -98.9% |
| J. T. Bevis | $896 | $392 | -56.3% |
| James M. High | $1,265 | $366 | -71.1% |
| Aaron K. Gibbs | $397 | $222 | -44.1% |
| Duane Gowdy | $9,461 | $17 | -99.8% |
| Black Creek Farm of Wakulla, LLC | $16,865 | $0 | -100% |
| Bob Danzey, LLC | $4,646 | $0 | -100% |
| Cheryl N. Renney | $5,806 | $0 | -100% |
| Cypress Point Oyster Company, LLC | $430 | $0 | -100% |
| David S. Cowie | $4,522 | $0 | -100% |
| Erin McGuire | $1,367 | $0 | -100% |
| James Melvin | $11,815 | $0 | -100% |
| John R Mclean Living Trust | $43,756 | $0 | -100% |
| L & W Oyster Company, LLC | $93,240 | $0 | -100% |
| Luke White | $4,319 | $0 | -100% |
| Nature Coast Oyster Company, LLC | $2,056 | $0 | -100% |
| Niko Oysters, LLC | $923 | $0 | -100% |
| Reginald Rosier | $1,399 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert M. Rhodes | $5,008 | $0 | -100% |
| Sunblest Gardens, LLC | $286,712 | $0 | -100% |
| Blake Aaron Gardner | $3,762 | $0 | -100% |
| Charles Earl | $3,871 | $0 | -100% |
| Denita Rae Sassor | $19,890 | $0 | -100% |
| Larry Allen | $1,031 | $0 | -100% |
| Matthew Ryan Hodges | $1,293 | $0 | -100% |
| Pirate's Treasure Oysters, LLC | $458 | $0 | -100% |
| Rick Soria | $85 | $0 | -100% |
| Saucey Lady Oyster Company, LLC | $3,741 | $0 | -100% |
| Shell Game Seafood, LLC | $2,340 | $0 | -100% |
| William C Kuersteiner | $778 | $0 | -100% |
| Serenoa Shellfish, LLC | $2,059 | $0 | -100% |
| William J. Creech | $7,908 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $1,332,741 | $446,211 | -66.5% |
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