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In 2021, 43 farmers in cities within Andrews County received a total of $776,466 in 81 farm subsidies, a 30.7% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $1.1 million in 103 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irwin Ranches, Inc. | $40,972 | $98,185 | 139.6% |
| Dan Newbrough | $243,587 | $83,556 | -65.7% |
| Glenice Clemmie Newbrough | $243,589 | $83,556 | -65.7% |
| Hill Cattle Company | $36,719 | $81,894 | 123% |
| Shelly Hightower | $0 | $68,825 | -- |
| David A. Post | $35,674 | $49,581 | 39% |
| National Bank of Andrews | $75,522 | $35,455 | -53.1% |
| Lee Ann Ballew | $638 | $31,529 | 4,841.8% |
| Jessica 2008 Trust | $37,040 | $24,647 | -33.5% |
| Julius R Ballew | $44,170 | $24,564 | -44.4% |
| H Harris Cattle, Ltd. | $9,099 | $19,442 | 113.7% |
| Russell Shannon | $25,915 | $15,331 | -40.8% |
| James E. Tompkins | $0 | $11,981 | -- |
| Ernest Thornton | $11,352 | $11,352 | 0% |
| Gary Rainey | $7,039 | $10,806 | 53.5% |
| M&H Four Cattle, Inc. | $60,852 | $10,473 | -82.8% |
| Beverly McGowen | $13,949 | $10,271 | -26.4% |
| Jesus A. Chavez Sr. | $11,260 | $9,670 | -14.1% |
| Alice Wight Leese | $29,073 | $9,575 | -67.1% |
| Imogene G Hetzel-James R & Imogene Hetzel Fmly Trustee | $0 | $9,412 | -- |
| P-Bar Lands, LP | $9,410 | $9,410 | 0% |
| Hemphill Farms, LLC | $9,615 | $5,894 | -38.7% |
| Carter A. Hemphill | $10,975 | $5,285 | -51.8% |
| Duvall Farms, LLC | $0 | $4,837 | -- |
| Terry Jo Irwin | $12,826 | $4,663 | -63.6% |
| Round Mountain Land and Livestock, LLC | $0 | $4,611 | -- |
| Andrea Mason | $0 | $4,449 | -- |
| Tina N Hardarson | $4,427 | $4,427 | 0% |
| J. B. Thompson | $7,804 | $4,258 | -45.4% |
| Rufus E. Stone | $3,833 | $3,833 | 0% |
| Donna Hunt Mason | $3,363 | $3,363 | 0% |
| Mike Hill | $16,809 | $3,336 | -80.2% |
| Betty L. Horton | $3,667 | $3,299 | -10% |
| Barney Fowler | $6,864 | $2,973 | -56.7% |
| Michael Woodrow Moore | $16,789 | $2,744 | -83.7% |
| Jo Ann Flowers Estate | $9,622 | $2,399 | -75.1% |
| Frederick Dearborn Wight | $9,066 | $1,863 | -79.5% |
| T & M Farms Gen PRTN | $13,382 | $1,370 | -89.8% |
| Donna Talent | $1,278 | $1,088 | -14.9% |
| John M. Patton | $1,279 | $1,088 | -14.9% |
| Teresa Gonzalez | $835 | $597 | -28.5% |
| William Morse Haynes | $1,397 | $320 | -77.1% |
| Jo Ann Flower Estate | $0 | $254 | -- |
| Christopher George Tom | $63 | $0 | -100% |
| George Gonzales | $3,409 | $0 | -100% |
| Imogene G Hetzel-James R & Imogen | $23,928 | $0 | -100% |
| JVJJ Farm, LLC | $6,236 | $0 | -100% |
| Lynn E. Jones | $13,711 | $0 | -100% |
| Paula A. Stephens | $307 | $0 | -100% |
| Viertel & Hall Partnership | $2,293 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $1,119,638 | $776,466 | -30.7% |
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