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In 2021, 42 farmers in cities within Flagler County received a total of $969,957 in 47 farm subsidies, a 54.8% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $2.1 million in 107 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene's Farms, Inc. | $250,000 | $250,000 | 0% |
| Strickland Sod Farm, Inc. | $0 | $205,838 | -- |
| Johnston Brothers Farm | $165,141 | $170,208 | 3.1% |
| Clegg Sod Farm, Inc. | $8,437 | $65,555 | 677% |
| Bratcher Farms | $249,277 | $51,064 | -79.5% |
| Samuel J. Bertha II | $0 | $46,078 | -- |
| Michael D. Harrison | $32,982 | $32,982 | 0% |
| Team Farm, Ltd. | $18,765 | $18,765 | 0% |
| Double Bar B Land & Cattle, LLC | $60,126 | $16,112 | -73.2% |
| Double C Ranch, LLC | $60,749 | $15,240 | -74.9% |
| Michael C. Boyd | $44,297 | $13,524 | -69.5% |
| Terryl E ALT Family Trust Under Will | $13,267 | $13,267 | 0% |
| George Allen III | $49,632 | $12,450 | -74.9% |
| Ba Cattle, LLC | $62,755 | $11,075 | -82.4% |
| Robert Scott Logan | $0 | $7,568 | -- |
| Jeremy F. Barton | $33,044 | $7,236 | -78.1% |
| R & R Bobcat Service | $0 | $7,144 | -- |
| Craig Barton | $17,422 | $2,984 | -82.9% |
| Diana J. Lebrun | $2,252 | $2,951 | 31% |
| Walton V. Cowart | $10,945 | $2,874 | -73.7% |
| David L. Cowart | $10,659 | $2,723 | -74.5% |
| John M. Luther | $5,804 | $1,708 | -70.6% |
| Jack F Burger | $7,535 | $1,572 | -79.1% |
| Darwin Larry Ingram | $2,179 | $1,450 | -33.5% |
| Philip H. Glatfelter | $0 | $1,239 | -- |
| Pollock Properties | $1,715 | $1,194 | -30.4% |
| Kari Sue Young | $1,105 | $1,105 | 0% |
| John Copsy | $7,599 | $1,035 | -86.4% |
| William O. Fisher | $2,679 | $853 | -68.2% |
| Thomas E. Cone | $3,288 | $644 | -80.4% |
| TK Cattle, Inc. | $3,902 | $479 | -87.7% |
| William J. Roberts | $2,563 | $463 | -81.9% |
| John C. Long | $3,425 | $432 | -87.4% |
| Verna Orhun | $1,344 | $413 | -69.3% |
| Alvin Salyerds | $1,565 | $377 | -75.9% |
| John Eugene Camp | $658 | $280 | -57.4% |
| Richard W. Eaker | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Theresa K. Geraci | $792 | $221 | -72.1% |
| Mary Ann Moorleghen | $342 | $216 | -36.8% |
| Haas Family Revocable Trust | $166 | $166 | 0% |
| Diane Dungan | $393 | $160 | -59.3% |
| Maxine M. Buckles | $108 | $62 | -42.6% |
| 7H Cattle Company, LLC | $6,380 | $0 | -100% |
| Baylor Farm & Ranch, LLC | $428,069 | $0 | -100% |
| Beaventerprises, LLC | $21,258 | $0 | -100% |
| Dennis C. Lee Jr. | $487 | $0 | -100% |
| Henry Brothers, LLC | $6,270 | $0 | -100% |
| John Matt Seay | $500,000 | $0 | -100% |
| Kinney Farms, Inc. | $16,535 | $0 | -100% |
| Mitchel Henry | $4,290 | $0 | -100% |
| Morgan Henry | $3,905 | $0 | -100% |
| Charles E. Watson | $21,644 | $0 | -100% |
| James B. Young | $315 | $0 | -100% |
| Michelle Boyd Laplant | $31 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $2,146,346 | $969,957 | -54.8% |
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