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In 2021, 264 farmers in cities within Thomas County received a total of $6 million in 457 farm subsidies, a 57.7% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $14.2 million in 734 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.
Farmers and Their Subsidies in Cities Associated with Thomas County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cynergy Farms | $894,331 | $417,285 | -53.3% |
| Piscola Creek Farms | $272,976 | $184,095 | -32.6% |
| Tuf Farms | $473,381 | $156,732 | -66.9% |
| 3G Farms | $328,322 | $147,413 | -55.1% |
| Grassy Flats Dairy, LLC | $312,268 | $135,724 | -56.5% |
| Robert Blake Stanaland | $255,436 | $125,612 | -50.8% |
| Johnson Ranch | $376,728 | $124,945 | -66.8% |
| C Mack & Michael L Millings | $248,570 | $124,063 | -50.1% |
| Buddha Belly Farms, LLC | $286,878 | $123,420 | -57% |
| Michael Anthony Barwick | $155,695 | $111,034 | -28.7% |
| Michael Brian Rayburn | $194,222 | $103,528 | -46.7% |
| Sherri Kee Rayburn | $180,325 | $102,028 | -43.4% |
| W Renley Bustle | $241,923 | $96,306 | -60.2% |
| Bryan W. Bustle | $235,768 | $93,327 | -60.4% |
| Tab A. Bustle | $235,773 | $93,317 | -60.4% |
| Franz Adam Rowland | $139,847 | $93,254 | -33.3% |
| Julie R. Rowland | $139,847 | $93,254 | -33.3% |
| Patch Poultry Farm, Inc. | $0 | $91,605 | -- |
| Glenda K. Stegall | $165,774 | $89,331 | -46.1% |
| Joseph I. Stegall | $169,954 | $89,321 | -47.4% |
| TF Farms, LLC | $650,054 | $87,370 | -86.6% |
| Scott Peeples | $150,029 | $86,000 | -42.7% |
| Merrillville Poultry Farms, Inc. | $0 | $84,475 | -- |
| Balfour Land Company | $0 | $82,474 | -- |
| Little River Agent, Inc. | $154,598 | $78,034 | -49.5% |
| Robert E. Hurst Sr. | $118,970 | $73,669 | -38.1% |
| Bret L. Owens | $134,162 | $72,148 | -46.2% |
| Wendy Y. Owens | $134,612 | $72,148 | -46.4% |
| Emory Wilson Farms, Inc. | $131,536 | $69,941 | -46.8% |
| J & R Enterprise | $197,314 | $69,187 | -64.9% |
| Josh G. Herring | $139,768 | $69,009 | -50.6% |
| William Lee Barwick Jr. | $144,003 | $68,533 | -52.4% |
| Carl E. Wilson Jr. | $125,447 | $67,605 | -46.1% |
| Robert K. Taylor Jr. | $20,658 | $65,733 | 218.2% |
| Banister Brothers Farm | $271,461 | $64,192 | -76.4% |
| Melanie Barwick | $115,703 | $63,853 | -44.8% |
| James M. Rayburn Jr. | $154,412 | $60,683 | -60.7% |
| Zachary Carter Davison | $125,973 | $60,100 | -52.3% |
| Joshua G. Herring | $162,395 | $59,710 | -63.2% |
| Franz Rowland | $200,611 | $58,825 | -70.7% |
| Karen Rowland | $200,611 | $58,825 | -70.7% |
| William Maurice Willis Jr. | $117,797 | $56,231 | -52.3% |
| Boyles Farms, LLC | $183,115 | $55,949 | -69.4% |
| Brinson's Logging, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Sunbelt Forest Products, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Timberland Southern, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| 5T Farms, LLC | $151,824 | $49,393 | -67.5% |
| Raymar Farms, Inc. | $91,181 | $47,595 | -47.8% |
| J J & R, Inc. | $86,761 | $47,330 | -45.4% |
| Willacoochee Creek Timber, LLC | $6,540 | $45,404 | 594.3% |
| Jumping Gully Dairy, LLC | $256,563 | $43,226 | -83.2% |
| Rowland EGG Farm, LLC | $0 | $41,056 | -- |
| RDHSW, LLC | $6,626 | $40,946 | 518% |
| Ray Stewart Jackson | $99,301 | $39,535 | -60.2% |
| K R Smith Farms, Inc. | $85,308 | $36,406 | -57.3% |
| Last Mohican, LLC | $70,873 | $36,385 | -48.7% |
| Clint J. Webb | $69,006 | $34,497 | -50% |
| James O. Webb | $71,000 | $34,497 | -51.4% |
| John Barry Stegall Jr. | $37,365 | $34,079 | -8.8% |
| Boundary Woods, LLC | $32,571 | $30,977 | -4.9% |
| Cleve Lloyd Kilgore | $96,278 | $29,909 | -68.9% |
| Patrick Lee White | $51,935 | $28,743 | -44.7% |
| L G Lee Farms, LLLP | $27,419 | $27,419 | 0% |
| Wise Boys Farms, LLC | $64,468 | $26,479 | -58.9% |
| Thomas L. Smith Jr. | $29,539 | $25,710 | -13% |
| Oscar T. Cook Jr. | $48,478 | $24,956 | -48.5% |
| Willie Ashburn Roberts Living Revocable Trust | $0 | $24,585 | -- |
| Walter J. Williams | $63,520 | $24,583 | -61.3% |
| Kenneth Mark Jones | $43,333 | $24,011 | -44.6% |
| The Thomasvile Stockyard, LLC. | $251,451 | $24,003 | -90.5% |
| John D. Bulloch Jr. | $224,446 | $23,779 | -89.4% |
| Windy Ridge Farms, LLLP | $23,021 | $23,021 | 0% |
| Donald G. Vinson | $23,054 | $22,572 | -2.1% |
| Hallman Farm, LLC | $22,366 | $22,366 | 0% |
| Bryan L. Williams | $28,550 | $20,673 | -27.6% |
| Kayla B. Davison | $38,473 | $20,541 | -46.6% |
| Robert D. Davison | $38,565 | $20,541 | -46.7% |
| Griffin Farms, Inc. | $37,973 | $19,165 | -49.5% |
| Austin Rowland | $8,310 | $19,037 | 129.1% |
| Twin Bay Farms, Inc. | $42,882 | $18,675 | -56.5% |
| Aaron James Williams | $54,421 | $16,712 | -69.3% |
| Jimmy P. Benton | $119,986 | $16,026 | -86.6% |
| G W Burton Properties, Inc. | $25,479 | $15,454 | -39.3% |
| Donald Mark Nesmith | $45,153 | $15,037 | -66.7% |
| Lawrence J. Herring | $13,303 | $13,826 | 3.9% |
| Wurst Homeplace Irrevocable Trust | $34,242 | $13,755 | -59.8% |
| Widow White Timber Company, LLP | $13,657 | $13,657 | 0% |
| Home Park Farm, LLC | $57,096 | $13,395 | -76.5% |
| Rocky Ford Farms, LLC | $0 | $12,550 | -- |
| Messer Dairy, Inc. | $448,083 | $11,989 | -97.3% |
| Charlie W Griffin JR & Son | $0 | $11,869 | -- |
| Larry I. Stephenson | $19,435 | $11,860 | -39% |
| Patrick R. Bruce | $20,168 | $11,825 | -41.4% |
| Max F. Beverly Sr. | $10,946 | $11,614 | 6.1% |
| Lewis Family Limited Partnership | $11,315 | $11,315 | 0% |
| Kelly Clyde Griffin Trust | $33,885 | $11,295 | -66.7% |
| Chigger Run Farm, LLC | $10,817 | $10,817 | 0% |
| T O Griffin Estate | $13,220 | $9,945 | -24.8% |
| Forac, LLC | $19,408 | $9,943 | -48.8% |
| Longhorn Land Investments, LLC | $0 | $9,740 | -- |
| Alan M. Wheeler | $18,768 | $9,735 | -48.1% |
| Benny Nichols | $9,272 | $9,272 | 0% |
| Rhett J. Stilwell | $30,849 | $9,035 | -70.7% |
| Lou Ellen Peek | $8,659 | $8,659 | 0% |
| Ole Mcdonald Farm, LLC | $0 | $8,493 | -- |
| Gerald S. Driggers | $10,219 | $7,898 | -22.7% |
| John W. Thompson Jr. | $4,836 | $7,696 | 59.1% |
| Matthew A. Thompson | $4,836 | $7,696 | 59.1% |
| Thomas R. Smith | $7,476 | $7,476 | 0% |
| Thomas N. Duren | $16,979 | $7,370 | -56.6% |
| Stewart Brothers Cattle Company, LLC | $79,401 | $6,357 | -92% |
| Barbara E. Griffin | $6,211 | $6,072 | -2.2% |
| Leila Ann Jinright Orr | $5,895 | $5,895 | 0% |
| Franklin B. Beverly Sr. | $5,473 | $5,807 | 6.1% |
| Owens & Owens Farms | $5,714 | $5,714 | 0% |
| William W. Ellis | $5,239 | $5,239 | 0% |
| Diana G. Fielding | $5,500 | $5,101 | -7.3% |
| Lee Ty Turner | $5,057 | $4,986 | -1.4% |
| Collins Pecan Groves, Inc. | $769,882 | $4,977 | -99.4% |
| Walters Farms, LLC | $35,791 | $4,968 | -86.1% |
| Anna Niewoehner Willis | $14,327 | $4,952 | -65.4% |
| Donald L. Vick | $21,222 | $4,944 | -76.7% |
| Jeffrey Andrew Rayburn | $9,773 | $4,920 | -49.7% |
| Bridgette Davis-Williams | $19,896 | $4,829 | -75.7% |
| Mary M. Maxwell | $4,722 | $4,722 | 0% |
| Franklin I Smith Farm, Inc. | $68,959 | $4,526 | -93.4% |
| Johnnie Mae Abrams Irrevocable Trust | $8,848 | $4,424 | -50% |
| Thomas Durrell Hancock | $0 | $4,404 | -- |
| Patricia C. Brinkley | $4,335 | $4,335 | 0% |
| Donnie Griner | $4,196 | $4,196 | 0% |
| Harmon Glynn Griner | $4,196 | $4,196 | 0% |
| William Donell Simmons | $12,842 | $4,022 | -68.7% |
| Billy Frank Burton III | $84,212 | $3,942 | -95.3% |
| Leigh Nikkole Avery | $6,853 | $3,814 | -44.3% |
| Estate of Glenn R Abrams | $3,660 | $3,660 | 0% |
| Walter Arliss Boyles Estate | $0 | $3,638 | -- |
| RCA, LLC | $3,623 | $3,623 | 0% |
| Shirley S. Strickland | $3,571 | $3,571 | 0% |
| Fresh Ideas, LLC | $3,544 | $3,544 | 0% |
| William T Cooper - the Cooper Family Trust | $0 | $3,461 | -- |
| Charles R. Bryant | $7,792 | $3,407 | -56.3% |
| Lois Fleming Hand | $3,300 | $3,300 | 0% |
| Joseph Edward Barnes Jr. | $3,167 | $3,167 | 0% |
| Withla V Robinson | $3,149 | $3,149 | 0% |
| Marion E. Thomaston | $4,247 | $3,108 | -26.8% |
| Dennis Knight | $3,104 | $3,104 | 0% |
| Herbert Allen Donalson | $4,160 | $2,992 | -28.1% |
| Patsy R. Cone | $2,949 | $2,949 | 0% |
| Rusty Lee Cone | $2,949 | $2,949 | 0% |
| Jerreann H Oliver | $6,261 | $2,814 | -55.1% |
| Joann B. Ponder | $2,742 | $2,742 | 0% |
| Samuel Ladon Messer | $0 | $2,687 | -- |
| Ann B. Scheib | $4,839 | $2,660 | -45% |
| James R. Dortch | $2,614 | $2,614 | 0% |
| S E Lee Trust | $2,990 | $2,612 | -12.6% |
| Vera Thomas | $2,503 | $2,503 | 0% |
| Phillips Farms | $820 | $2,411 | 194% |
| Estelle K. Mims | $2,311 | $2,311 | 0% |
| William Scott Copps Jr. | $7,168 | $2,307 | -67.8% |
| Sammy C. Davis | $2,254 | $2,254 | 0% |
| Carol C. Stilwell | $2,238 | $2,238 | 0% |
| Ronald T. Williams | $3,879 | $2,223 | -42.7% |
| RBJR Farms, LLC | $2,176 | $2,176 | 0% |
| David N. Rogers | $2,172 | $2,172 | 0% |
| Teresa M. Cone | $0 | $2,162 | -- |
| Julia T. Harper | $2,151 | $2,151 | 0% |
| Diane P. Welch | $2,089 | $2,089 | 0% |
| Growers Hardware & Supply Company, Inc. | $2,052 | $2,052 | 0% |
| Kimberly Y. Connell | $2,015 | $2,015 | 0% |
| Bryant Farm | $7,284 | $2,013 | -72.4% |
| Danny Dale Harper | $38,686 | $1,976 | -94.9% |
| Eugene Wade | $0 | $1,907 | -- |
| Edwin W. Richardson | $3,088 | $1,853 | -40% |
| Judie B. Parker | $1,788 | $1,788 | 0% |
| Letha B. Golden | $1,775 | $1,775 | 0% |
| Collins Pecans of Lamont, LLC | $0 | $1,749 | -- |
| John H. Davis | $3,278 | $1,736 | -47% |
| Mary Anne Davis | $1,736 | $1,736 | 0% |
| Richard E. Orso | $694 | $1,701 | 145.1% |
| Ashley M. Singletary | $9,895 | $1,680 | -83% |
| Jerrod M. Gerleman | $1,673 | $1,673 | 0% |
| Andrew Jacob Taylor | $2,735 | $1,644 | -39.9% |
| Steven B. Nelson | $1,592 | $1,592 | 0% |
| C & J Cattle, LLC | $7,227 | $1,536 | -78.7% |
| Randolph Brock | $245 | $1,512 | 517.1% |
| David Michael Suber | $26,624 | $1,506 | -94.3% |
| Banner Bridge Farm, LLC | $7,857 | $1,490 | -81% |
| Ricky Thedford | $3,212 | $1,415 | -55.9% |
| U S Mortgage Group, Inc. | $1,390 | $1,390 | 0% |
| Forest Resource Services, Inc. | $797 | $1,352 | 69.6% |
| William Gerard Turner | $2,231 | $1,320 | -40.8% |
| Jack R. Brown | $1,246 | $1,246 | 0% |
| Cheryl S. Richardson | $0 | $1,235 | -- |
| Jane Waller | $1,497 | $1,155 | -22.8% |
| James Shade Brown Jr. | $6,119 | $1,153 | -81.2% |
| Mark W. Brown | $6,119 | $1,153 | -81.2% |
| David Michael Roach | $2,810 | $1,147 | -59.2% |
| Charles Jimmy Dunlap | $2,745 | $1,118 | -59.3% |
| Frances P. Hallman | $1,369 | $1,113 | -18.7% |
| Joey Holland | $1,076 | $1,076 | 0% |
| Dominic Monda | $1,070 | $1,070 | 0% |
| Pauline P. Taylor | $1,026 | $1,026 | 0% |
| Craig R. Hines | $1,017 | $1,017 | 0% |
| Kathy L. Smith | $1,507 | $971 | -35.6% |
| Jay Patrick Evans | $932 | $932 | 0% |
| James Thomas Rehberg | $927 | $927 | 0% |
| Betty W. Benton | $1,693 | $914 | -46% |
| Cer Timber, LLC | $0 | $911 | -- |
| Harold Eugene McNease | $0 | $863 | -- |
| Sue V. Garfield | $449 | $849 | 89.1% |
| Jesse C. Chastain | $0 | $829 | -- |
| Carlton R. Powell | $819 | $819 | 0% |
| Nilsa Maria Bruno | $0 | $779 | -- |
| Dustin Dowdy | $150 | $726 | 384% |
| Gena M. Brogren | $1,372 | $686 | -50% |
| Mary H. Green | $680 | $680 | 0% |
| Michael K. Barnes | $82 | $678 | 726.8% |
| Carey Tanner | $5,240 | $675 | -87.1% |
| Roger L. Walker | $5,286 | $666 | -87.4% |
| Edward L. Cockrell | $0 | $635 | -- |
| Jeffrey Scott Palmer | $24,079 | $627 | -97.4% |
| Heyward Wayne Adams | $3,119 | $607 | -80.5% |
| Hubert H. Barwick III | $601 | $601 | 0% |
| Glenn M. Burton | $541 | $593 | 9.6% |
| Odell Griner | $1,222 | $578 | -52.7% |
| April A. Brack | $1,048 | $572 | -45.4% |
| Linda Anne Cauley | $557 | $557 | 0% |
| Terri Morris Odom | $557 | $557 | 0% |
| Irvan D. Nesmith | $554 | $554 | 0% |
| Patricia B. Lee | $525 | $525 | 0% |
| Jonathan Rasmussen | $525 | $525 | 0% |
| Floyd Guice | $3,746 | $518 | -86.2% |
| Randy G. Bryant | $3,443 | $502 | -85.4% |
| Tijuana Scott | $497 | $497 | 0% |
| Marsha Elaine G. Rich | $491 | $491 | 0% |
| Kay Pohlman | $455 | $472 | 3.7% |
| Michael E. Pohlman | $455 | $472 | 3.7% |
| HPF Properties LP | $2,204 | $452 | -79.5% |
| Jack Dunham | $4,213 | $446 | -89.4% |
| D'Vonte D Lamons | $0 | $434 | -- |
| Jonathan Jeffrey Conner | $4,709 | $426 | -91% |
| Teresa L. Perkins | $426 | $426 | 0% |
| Tracy Lee Perkins | $426 | $426 | 0% |
| Timothy S. Jones | $1,962 | $403 | -79.5% |
| Christopher A. Plymale | $396 | $396 | 0% |
| Vann Reed | $505 | $358 | -29.1% |
| Robert L. Wilson | $23,995 | $341 | -98.6% |
| Randall J. Barwick | $4,692 | $320 | -93.2% |
| Carolyn B. Kelly | $532 | $266 | -50% |
| S & H Dairy Farm | $7,127 | $250 | -96.5% |
| Michael R. Beasley | $231 | $231 | 0% |
| William McKown | $190 | $190 | 0% |
| Kenneth D. Hicks | $435 | $162 | -62.8% |
| Charles M. Pendergast | $391 | $161 | -58.8% |
| Janice M. Lawhorn | $635 | $160 | -74.8% |
| Lemon Shaw | $831 | $155 | -81.3% |
| Russell Melton Covington | $626 | $148 | -76.4% |
| George W. Stafford III | $0 | $77 | -- |
| Taylor Miranda Kinsey | $16,252 | $68 | -99.6% |
| Lee F. Green | $54 | $54 | 0% |
| Vicki S. Hickey | $54 | $54 | 0% |
| Lewis A. Garfield | $449 | $48 | -89.3% |
| Roderick H. Jones | $83 | $5 | -94% |
| Carolyn French | $64 | $4 | -93.8% |
| Barnes Farm | $32,558 | $0 | -100% |
| Edith G. Highsmith | $88 | $0 | -100% |
| Kristan Elsey | $1,705 | $0 | -100% |
| Marianne R. Lewis | $198 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas J. Lovett | $660 | $0 | -100% |
| Vernon D. Hodges Jr. | $456 | $0 | -100% |
| Vernon E. Tinsley | $705 | $0 | -100% |
| Virgil Andrew Walker III | $91 | $0 | -100% |
| A Farm, LLC | $283 | $0 | -100% |
| Bettye J. Williamson | $1,410 | $0 | -100% |
| Natalie S. Burton | $48,910 | $0 | -100% |
| Stacey S. Suber | $10,038 | $0 | -100% |
| William Don Harper | $48,945 | $0 | -100% |
| Andrea M. Stanaland | $884 | $0 | -100% |
| Carolyn S. Miller | $2,162 | $0 | -100% |
| Frank G. Warr | $24,066 | $0 | -100% |
| James L. White Jr. | $2,156 | $0 | -100% |
| Paula S. Thompson | $21,631 | $0 | -100% |
| Randy Beverly | $59,943 | $0 | -100% |
| Rock Branch, LLC | $783 | $0 | -100% |
| Three Sisters Poultry, LLC | $7,404 | $0 | -100% |
| Barbara D. Dixon | $2,576 | $0 | -100% |
| Charles W. Linton | $3,733 | $0 | -100% |
| David H. Young | $808 | $0 | -100% |
| Debra Griffin Parker | $2,222 | $0 | -100% |
| Docwood Farm, LLC | $4,302 | $0 | -100% |
| Fritz B. Roberts | $12,293 | $0 | -100% |
| Hickory Head, LLC | $10,904 | $0 | -100% |
| Jimmy Perry Benton Jr. | $2,365 | $0 | -100% |
| John C. Carr Jr. | $2,169 | $0 | -100% |
| Joseph Walden | $224 | $0 | -100% |
| Julian E. Robinson | $791 | $0 | -100% |
| Kyle Adison Brown | $3,214 | $0 | -100% |
| Marcy H. Young | $808 | $0 | -100% |
| Norma Jean Griner | $2,732 | $0 | -100% |
| Nothing New Farms, LLLP | $166 | $0 | -100% |
| Ross A. Jones | $135 | $0 | -100% |
| Russell P Chubb Trust | $3,280 | $0 | -100% |
| Tony Ward | $6,178 | $0 | -100% |
| Wild Ridge, LLC | $46,807 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $14,177,486 | $6,000,220 | -57.7% |
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