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In 2021, 170 farmers in cities within Oakland County received a total of $718,799 in 272 farm subsidies, a 9.9% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $798,052 in 478 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 Oakland County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fogler's Greenhouse, Inc. | $0 | $139,092 | -- |
| John Fogler Farms, LLC | $101,643 | $79,237 | -22% |
| Shane Lynch | $0 | $73,913 | -- |
| Clark Milner Cook | $10,303 | $24,850 | 141.2% |
| Joann Franks | $21,777 | $21,777 | 0% |
| Richard Walsh Jr. | $0 | $18,675 | -- |
| Douglas B. Gwinn | $28,596 | $17,770 | -37.9% |
| George S Allan Trust | $20,699 | $15,132 | -26.9% |
| John Burmeister | $15,118 | $15,118 | 0% |
| Douglas J Krizanic | $14,023 | $13,638 | -2.7% |
| David J. Geiger | $20,512 | $10,783 | -47.4% |
| R & G Walton Farms, LLC | $16,402 | $10,147 | -38.1% |
| Carolyn Sprague Revocable Living Trust | $0 | $9,387 | -- |
| Paul W Bruner Trust | $7,999 | $9,264 | 15.8% |
| M S W Ventures, LLC | $17,932 | $8,381 | -53.3% |
| Shawn Williams | $17,759 | $8,259 | -53.5% |
| Jeffrey Rasawehr | $24,549 | $7,963 | -67.6% |
| Robert Rockol | $15,111 | $7,053 | -53.3% |
| Nelsen Farm, LLC | $11,610 | $6,464 | -44.3% |
| Jane M. Gentzel | $10,612 | $6,332 | -40.3% |
| Christopher Chang | $6,172 | $6,172 | 0% |
| Soon Chang | $6,172 | $6,172 | 0% |
| Robert Robert M. Chambersrevocabletrust M. Chambers | $5,560 | $5,560 | 0% |
| Kristina M Swenda | $0 | $5,504 | -- |
| Vernon L. Scott | $0 | $5,210 | -- |
| Gregory O. MacKenzie | $12,405 | $5,192 | -58.1% |
| James C. Vantine Jr. | $5,873 | $5,100 | -13.2% |
| Mark D Rodemeyer Trust U/M August 26 1998 | $3,390 | $5,082 | 49.9% |
| Evelyn Enterprise, LLC. | $0 | $5,070 | -- |
| Benson A. Bancroft | $0 | $5,038 | -- |
| Julijana Rasawehr | $0 | $4,325 | -- |
| Jeffery C. Schofield | $4,922 | $4,304 | -12.6% |
| David Janes | $4,284 | $4,284 | 0% |
| Neil T. Russell | $6,861 | $4,002 | -41.7% |
| John Wojciechowski | $4,013 | $3,746 | -6.7% |
| Gary J. Angove | $3,687 | $3,687 | 0% |
| Danny Mason | $4,599 | $3,566 | -22.5% |
| Fredric C Snow Family, LLC | $3,386 | $3,386 | 0% |
| Dennis D. Madigan | $3,958 | $2,962 | -25.2% |
| Marilyn J Smith Estate | $3,942 | $2,900 | -26.4% |
| Tava Sowers | $6,751 | $2,822 | -58.2% |
| Six Rivers Land Conservancy | $984 | $2,794 | 183.9% |
| Rick J Behrens Declaration of Trust | $2,793 | $2,793 | 0% |
| Bruce Spielbusch | $3,490 | $2,718 | -22.1% |
| Stephen B Rhudy - Stephen B Rhudy Trust | $5,035 | $2,682 | -46.7% |
| MDD Farm, LLC | $8,573 | $2,643 | -69.2% |
| Marta Trimmer | $5,736 | $2,494 | -56.5% |
| Donna L Conway Revocable Living Trust | $11,828 | $2,469 | -79.1% |
| James & Bonnie Gowans Joint Trust | $2,439 | $2,439 | 0% |
| Shirley M Coopwood Irrevocable Trust | $1,749 | $2,419 | 38.3% |
| Robert and Frances Sowers Living Trust | $9,281 | $2,328 | -74.9% |
| Vance Bates Farms, LLC | $3,602 | $2,236 | -37.9% |
| George a Robertson & Lavon O'Neal Robertson Living | $0 | $2,192 | -- |
| Valerie Oltman | $4,583 | $2,141 | -53.3% |
| Robert E. Matteson | $1,271 | $2,134 | 67.9% |
| Randolph Clayton | $2,086 | $2,086 | 0% |
| Mary Becker | $3,372 | $2,070 | -38.6% |
| Todd M. Chizmar | $4,308 | $2,060 | -52.2% |
| John R. Miller | $4,689 | $2,038 | -56.5% |
| Dennis Brian Cooper | $3,630 | $2,010 | -44.6% |
| Michael a Chekal | $3,748 | $1,960 | -47.7% |
| Edward Kluck Living Trust | $8,583 | $1,928 | -77.5% |
| Amy I. Stricker | $4,435 | $1,884 | -57.5% |
| Wilbur Kriete | $2,329 | $1,865 | -19.9% |
| John A. Spezia Jr. | $7,077 | $1,804 | -74.5% |
| Mark P. Jensen | $1,701 | $1,701 | 0% |
| Duane A. Beamish | $3,286 | $1,642 | -50% |
| Marvin Aranowski | $1,633 | $1,633 | 0% |
| John E. McKinnon | $1,527 | $1,527 | 0% |
| John C. Bateman | $2,125 | $1,521 | -28.4% |
| Jesse J Cardellio Rolling Hills Orchard | $2,351 | $1,493 | -36.5% |
| Nicholas Szluha | $2,685 | $1,471 | -45.2% |
| Margaret E. Patten | $1,401 | $1,401 | 0% |
| Nicholas Koch | $2,887 | $1,391 | -51.8% |
| Howard D. Bryant | $2,955 | $1,388 | -53% |
| Ava J Gidcomb | $3,364 | $1,366 | -59.4% |
| David Horton | $1,726 | $1,339 | -22.4% |
| Hinkle Hixon Farm, LLC | $3,019 | $1,338 | -55.7% |
| Richard S. Schierloh | $1,320 | $1,320 | 0% |
| Gregory E. Parker | $0 | $1,311 | -- |
| Marilyn J Dipboye Rev Liv Trustee 8/9/17 | $823 | $1,254 | 52.4% |
| Janet E Caltrider Living Trust DTD 12/28/2001 | $3,584 | $1,239 | -65.4% |
| Springbrook Ranch, LLC | $650 | $1,223 | 88.2% |
| William J. Tyrrell | $4,153 | $1,167 | -71.9% |
| Lester W Utterback Rev Trust U/A | $1,656 | $1,139 | -31.2% |
| William Peterson - William Peterson Living Trustee | $0 | $1,135 | -- |
| Ruth E. Burns | $1,131 | $1,131 | 0% |
| Ardell Kiefer Trust | $2,626 | $1,107 | -57.8% |
| Mary Sievert | $2,088 | $1,044 | -50% |
| Todd Ginsbach | $1,022 | $1,022 | 0% |
| Mary Wheeler | $814 | $989 | 21.5% |
| Carol Stratman | $4,724 | $971 | -79.4% |
| Sandra K. Ayers | $2,729 | $961 | -64.8% |
| Brent T. Repp | $1,517 | $881 | -41.9% |
| John Comps | $643 | $857 | 33.3% |
| Mcmanus Homestead, LLC | $1,882 | $856 | -54.5% |
| Theodore Read Partnership | $3,509 | $798 | -77.3% |
| Mary C. Annin | $3,344 | $785 | -76.5% |
| Andrew K. Randolph | $1,746 | $770 | -55.9% |
| Louise V. Green | $354 | $770 | 117.5% |
| Anna S. Richert | $745 | $745 | 0% |
| Nancy Oeswein | $1,373 | $741 | -46% |
| Lyle Family Farms, LLC | $732 | $732 | 0% |
| Marie Cooper | $412 | $718 | 74.3% |
| Durrell Family, LLC | $717 | $717 | 0% |
| Dennis Post | $711 | $711 | 0% |
| Janice Guzdial | $2,262 | $705 | -68.8% |
| Richard A. Scholer | $2,019 | $674 | -66.6% |
| Thomas F Dolnicek | $1,701 | $649 | -61.8% |
| Iseeds Properties, LLC | $527 | $648 | 23% |
| Ted E. Jackson | $1,403 | $640 | -54.4% |
| Landon Grim | $1,915 | $628 | -67.2% |
| Beverly Schaub Revocable Inter Vivos Trust | $1,128 | $609 | -46% |
| Guy J. Doty | $2,083 | $609 | -70.8% |
| Craig J. Weber | $0 | $593 | -- |
| Kathleen Schneider | $584 | $584 | 0% |
| Mary Kirkwood | $1,293 | $552 | -57.3% |
| Sarah E. Weber | $288 | $530 | 84% |
| Roger Gehle | $1,024 | $512 | -50% |
| Billy R. Forgy | $773 | $472 | -38.9% |
| Scott Buchholz | $0 | $467 | -- |
| Michael J Tahy Family Trust | $27 | $449 | 1,563% |
| Kay Hannemann | $1,566 | $432 | -72.4% |
| Roy E. Bonnett | $0 | $431 | -- |
| Barbara Hoffman | $0 | $431 | -- |
| Kirk Wade Hansen | $406 | $406 | 0% |
| Audrey S Trethewey Revocable Trust | $405 | $405 | 0% |
| Barbara J. Hoffman | $0 | $402 | -- |
| Susan Wahl | $1,475 | $401 | -72.8% |
| Norma Greeley | $1,613 | $400 | -75.2% |
| Pheril Rogers | $581 | $398 | -31.5% |
| Carol Wilson | $297 | $396 | 33.3% |
| Peggy S. Cooke | $2,054 | $391 | -81% |
| Harold R. Koenig Jr. | $843 | $381 | -54.8% |
| Brian Stieneker | $387 | $367 | -5.2% |
| Nicholson Farm, LLC | $866 | $367 | -57.6% |
| George M. Black IV | $3,309 | $365 | -89% |
| Loretta S. Harp | $893 | $336 | -62.4% |
| Kathleen M Surmont | $1,216 | $307 | -74.8% |
| Julie Rossi | $196 | $290 | 48% |
| Nicole Knobloch J. Wallace | $880 | $276 | -68.6% |
| Susan J. Harding | $655 | $276 | -57.9% |
| Gayle Kay Budzynski | $595 | $260 | -56.3% |
| Bob Alton | $717 | $260 | -63.7% |
| Melvin Gay | $1,599 | $256 | -84% |
| Carole F. Duffy | $948 | $254 | -73.2% |
| Kurt Psotka | $271 | $250 | -7.7% |
| Shane M. Cerone | $408 | $230 | -43.6% |
| Julie Adler | $341 | $222 | -34.9% |
| Caloia Farms, Inc. | $220 | $216 | -1.8% |
| Larry G. Herzinger | $0 | $196 | -- |
| Roy A. Ruhle | $306 | $194 | -36.6% |
| Deborah A. Macinnes | $601 | $172 | -71.4% |
| Charlene A. Giesen | $248 | $172 | -30.6% |
| John E. Harding | $407 | $172 | -57.7% |
| John A. Ness | $477 | $157 | -67.1% |
| George a Robertson & Lavon O'Neal Robertson Living | $577 | $155 | -73.1% |
| Lance Goin | $390 | $141 | -63.8% |
| Carter Enterprises, LLC | $0 | $136 | -- |
| Charlene Beck | $283 | $131 | -53.7% |
| Mary Ellen Cales | $366 | $120 | -67.2% |
| Merlyn K. Bacci | $289 | $108 | -62.6% |
| Nancy Eklund | $440 | $86 | -80.5% |
| John Greene | $97 | $85 | -12.4% |
| Tracy Antenucci | $0 | $69 | -- |
| Steven E. Eldridge | $347 | $39 | -88.8% |
| Samuel E. Eldridge | $348 | $39 | -88.8% |
| Myrtice Shelton-Beatty | $20 | $32 | 60% |
| Buffy Lee Wilkerson | $215 | $32 | -85.1% |
| Hubert Walker | $21 | $25 | 19% |
| Linda Proper | $401 | $0 | -100% |
| Daddy Long Legs Vineyards, LLC | $2,381 | $0 | -100% |
| Bruce Barrett | $214 | $0 | -100% |
| Homer Properties, LLC | $265 | $0 | -100% |
| 45th Parallel Hops, LLC | $665 | $0 | -100% |
| Carolyn Sprague Revocable Living | $8,909 | $0 | -100% |
| Conrad A. Knape | $1,066 | $0 | -100% |
| George a Robertson & Lavon O'Neal | $2,698 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael Monnich | $2,806 | $0 | -100% |
| Dewayne Fasse - Fasse Revocable Trust | $1,648 | $0 | -100% |
| David Batkie | $3,580 | $0 | -100% |
| Madrey Farm Partnership | $830 | $0 | -100% |
| Margaret Hasler | $336 | $0 | -100% |
| Ralph Muller | $362 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas Kreitler | $735 | $0 | -100% |
| Daa, LLC | $1,330 | $0 | -100% |
| Robyn E Gothelf-Fishman | $1,627 | $0 | -100% |
| Brian J. Fallon | $618 | $0 | -100% |
| Martha Sherrell | $16 | $0 | -100% |
| Howard L. Finley | $682 | $0 | -100% |
| Ronald Abbas | $2,425 | $0 | -100% |
| Seth Vogel | $49 | $0 | -100% |
| William Peterson - William Peters | $1,286 | $0 | -100% |
| Catherine Genovese | $18,530 | $0 | -100% |
| Summer Dreams Farm, LLC | $12,008 | $0 | -100% |
| Terry McCullough | $246 | $0 | -100% |
| Brian F. Bauer | $731 | $0 | -100% |
| Anna R. Pearcy | $478 | $0 | -100% |
| Inderjit Singh | $10,329 | $0 | -100% |
| Julie Bates | $6,017 | $0 | -100% |
| Korson Brothers, Inc. | $3,494 | $0 | -100% |
| Mildred Singler | $1,603 | $0 | -100% |
| Nancy L. Berry | $25,763 | $0 | -100% |
| Adducci Farm & Ranch, LLC | $6,161 | $0 | -100% |
| Eric C. Petrosky | $1,567 | $0 | -100% |
| James E. Gierman | $349 | $0 | -100% |
| Howard Perkins Jr. | $61 | $0 | -100% |
| Larry A. Smith | $494 | $0 | -100% |
| St. Joseph Tree Farms, LLC | $3,662 | $0 | -100% |
| John Edward Nametz | $1,861 | $0 | -100% |
| Bennett W. Sipes | $2,663 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $798,052 | $718,799 | -9.9% |
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
City of Auburn Hills• City Of Ferndale• City Of Birmingham• Village of Milford• Village of Beverly Hills• City of Madison Heights• Village of Ortonville• City of Farmington• City of Walled Lake• City of Farmington Hills• City of Bloomfield Hills• City of South Lyon• City of Wixom• City of Oak Park• City of Huntington Woods• Village of Bingham Farms• City of Rochester• City of Rochester Hills• City of Berkley• City of Pleasant Ridge• City of Clawson• City of Pontiac• Village of Lake Orion• Village of Wolverine Lake• City of Royal Oak• Village of Oxford• City of Southfield• Village of Leonard
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