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In 2021, 284 farmers in cities within Custer County received a total of $3 million in 570 farm subsidies, a 45.4% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $5.4 million in 774 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 Custer County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| H & T Bies Cattle Company | $221,741 | $207,083 | -6.6% |
| Needles View Ranch, LLC | $0 | $147,256 | -- |
| Vinton & Son Ranches, Inc. | $0 | $124,603 | -- |
| Dyesville Angus, LLC | $98,187 | $87,780 | -10.6% |
| Cheyenne River Buffalo Ranch, LLC | $0 | $85,254 | -- |
| Rafter 9, LLC | $89,960 | $83,005 | -7.7% |
| Rittberger Beef, Inc. | $136,717 | $62,035 | -54.6% |
| Melvin C. Swallow | $35,157 | $55,350 | 57.4% |
| Linde Logging, Inc. | $0 | $52,875 | -- |
| Baker Cattle Limited Partnership | $94,752 | $48,848 | -48.4% |
| Rick Fox | $101,801 | $44,360 | -56.4% |
| Harold E Fromm Living Trust | $43,879 | $43,818 | -0.1% |
| Royce R. Huber | $31,846 | $42,315 | 32.9% |
| Roger Dikoff | $96,443 | $42,029 | -56.4% |
| Alan Bishop | $41,131 | $41,573 | 1.1% |
| Emmit Dickschat | $109,849 | $39,311 | -64.2% |
| Tom Colgan | $32,300 | $39,180 | 21.3% |
| Julia Trevillyan | $45,194 | $34,563 | -23.5% |
| Lesta Conger | $24,321 | $31,774 | 30.6% |
| Lois M Rapp Estate | $31,362 | $31,728 | 1.2% |
| Sidney Allen Cuny | $0 | $31,471 | -- |
| David E. Cuny | $119,250 | $30,354 | -74.5% |
| Frank Rapp | $44,601 | $28,833 | -35.4% |
| A & O Farming & Harvesting | $77,640 | $27,873 | -64.1% |
| David Scott Cuny | $93,318 | $27,463 | -70.6% |
| Dale Russ Ballard | $65,894 | $26,461 | -59.8% |
| Kenneth Knuppe | $77,176 | $26,368 | -65.8% |
| Conger Ranch Partnership | $23,676 | $25,532 | 7.8% |
| Robert Baker | $50,766 | $24,487 | -51.8% |
| BCR, Inc. | $54,726 | $22,878 | -58.2% |
| Dillon R. Whitcher | $68,959 | $22,679 | -67.1% |
| Bunny L Pisacka | $42,058 | $21,659 | -48.5% |
| Clayton J. Sander | $24,543 | $21,566 | -12.1% |
| Marlin Maude | $39,266 | $21,479 | -45.3% |
| Sandra G. Buffington | $27,738 | $21,068 | -24% |
| Behrens Ranch Limited Liability Company | $0 | $20,925 | -- |
| Mary a Webster Living Trust | $64,687 | $20,567 | -68.2% |
| O'Neill Family Ranch, LLC | $21,908 | $19,996 | -8.7% |
| Barton J. Uhlir | $55,650 | $19,402 | -65.1% |
| Ruth Sichterman | $57,228 | $19,315 | -66.2% |
| Seth S. White | $39,391 | $19,226 | -51.2% |
| Tom L. Coolahan | $64,735 | $19,201 | -70.3% |
| Ross Daniel Cuny | $57,344 | $18,830 | -67.2% |
| Jeremiah J. Whitcher | $57,517 | $18,464 | -67.9% |
| Lana Huber | $13,829 | $18,438 | 33.3% |
| Earl F Webster Living Trust | $67,606 | $17,770 | -73.7% |
| A & B Ranch, Inc. | $32,811 | $17,306 | -47.3% |
| Constance S. Woodward | $7,359 | $17,068 | 131.9% |
| Kelly R Kritenbrink | $55,715 | $16,238 | -70.9% |
| Karen Rittberger | $36,396 | $16,070 | -55.8% |
| Daniel H. O'Brien | $41,871 | $15,838 | -62.2% |
| Nancy Ann Baker | $33,369 | $15,333 | -54.1% |
| Oonagh Wood | $35,946 | $14,764 | -58.9% |
| James A. Baker | $46,354 | $14,414 | -68.9% |
| Spring Creek Ranch | $20,063 | $14,337 | -28.5% |
| Marion D. Maude | $36,119 | $14,203 | -60.7% |
| Gary E. Baker | $33,662 | $14,149 | -58% |
| Brian D. Colgan | $13,195 | $13,914 | 5.4% |
| Randy Schroth | $42,042 | $13,355 | -68.2% |
| Le Roy Zander | $9,682 | $13,289 | 37.3% |
| Carol L. Hendrickson | $11,151 | $13,047 | 17% |
| Scott R. Lammers | $59,842 | $13,021 | -78.2% |
| Spring Valley Ranch, LLC | $25,606 | $12,740 | -50.2% |
| Christian L. Frank | $10,786 | $12,042 | 11.6% |
| Clay Shorb | $50,431 | $11,956 | -76.3% |
| Murphy Cattle Company, LLC | $59,757 | $11,922 | -80% |
| Evergreen Ranching and Livestock, LLC | $0 | $11,883 | -- |
| Ruth J Sichterman Estate | $0 | $11,517 | -- |
| Earl Brunson | $8,250 | $11,502 | 39.4% |
| Michael M. Melius | $11,259 | $11,494 | 2.1% |
| Brent Dean Fox | $39,719 | $11,423 | -71.2% |
| Taylor Farm, LLC | $21,507 | $11,342 | -47.3% |
| Gene G. Ferguson | $23,221 | $11,296 | -51.4% |
| Tyler J. Robertson | $37,918 | $10,940 | -71.1% |
| Fred Rittberger & Sons, Inc. | $52,203 | $10,541 | -79.8% |
| William J. Kuhl III | $37,228 | $10,086 | -72.9% |
| Cole James Trevillyan | $13,209 | $9,973 | -24.5% |
| Bill B. Shorb | $29,150 | $9,802 | -66.4% |
| Elizabeth K. Smith | $27,227 | $9,649 | -64.6% |
| Michael J. Hunsaker | $12,650 | $9,519 | -24.8% |
| Karen Twiss | $26,301 | $9,178 | -65.1% |
| E&M Webster Family Partnership | $0 | $8,905 | -- |
| Seth Albert May | $19,190 | $8,639 | -55% |
| Dean Johnson | $40,515 | $8,586 | -78.8% |
| Shawn a Fugier | $24,508 | $8,468 | -65.4% |
| Ty L. Fish | $35,728 | $8,444 | -76.4% |
| Huber Land and Cattle Company | $7,902 | $8,349 | 5.7% |
| Maurice D. Twiss | $16,190 | $8,266 | -48.9% |
| Jacob D. Rausch | $32,670 | $8,132 | -75.1% |
| Alan Webster | $21,340 | $8,088 | -62.1% |
| Tyler T. Carroll | $29,535 | $7,935 | -73.1% |
| Edward McMahon | $44,320 | $7,925 | -82.1% |
| Jerry D. Johnson | $7,743 | $7,709 | -0.4% |
| Heidi Ellen Cuny | $13,455 | $7,618 | -43.4% |
| Jacob Dean Rausch | $0 | $7,519 | -- |
| On or Around, LLC | $0 | $7,464 | -- |
| John Schelske | $38,875 | $7,383 | -81% |
| Todd Hanson | $19,790 | $7,265 | -63.3% |
| Franklin Krause | $7,258 | $7,258 | 0% |
| Gary P. Herrington | $13,046 | $7,218 | -44.7% |
| Chuck Blome | $0 | $7,080 | -- |
| Donald D. Carroll Jr. | $23,923 | $7,040 | -70.6% |
| Tanner R. Radway | $4,988 | $6,927 | 38.9% |
| Homestead, LLC | $15,480 | $6,828 | -55.9% |
| TJF Farms, LLC | $15,714 | $6,773 | -56.9% |
| Neugebauer Bros Dairy | $15,216 | $6,656 | -56.3% |
| Darrell Peterson | $5,857 | $6,599 | 12.7% |
| Robert J. White | $21,655 | $6,547 | -69.8% |
| Clyde M. Gorsuch | $0 | $6,380 | -- |
| Kristin R. Neugebauer | $15,196 | $6,345 | -58.2% |
| Thomas L. Kaiser | $27,910 | $6,345 | -77.3% |
| Walter E. Whitcher | $12,623 | $6,180 | -51% |
| Gary Fliehs | $22,628 | $6,150 | -72.8% |
| Steven Glen Trump | $12,831 | $6,046 | -52.9% |
| Ronald Richards | $11,151 | $6,002 | -46.2% |
| Bondurant Ranch, Inc. | $6,373 | $5,968 | -6.4% |
| Vincent Wienk | $4,419 | $5,893 | 33.4% |
| Kirk Cattle & Land Company, LLC | $11,952 | $5,748 | -51.9% |
| Anna Marie Evans | $14,268 | $5,693 | -60.1% |
| Tate Martin Halverson | $19,632 | $5,441 | -72.3% |
| Fred Rittberger | $36,006 | $5,375 | -85.1% |
| Kyle S Edoff | $30,122 | $5,354 | -82.2% |
| Richard Rausch | $1,440 | $5,333 | 270.3% |
| Susan M. Rausch | $1,440 | $5,333 | 270.3% |
| Donald Kolb | $23,438 | $5,233 | -77.7% |
| Susan K. Bowen | $6,344 | $5,075 | -20% |
| Laura B. Catron | $4,985 | $4,985 | 0% |
| Merle Semmler | $19,299 | $4,958 | -74.3% |
| Mark D. Nielsen | $4,835 | $4,835 | 0% |
| Patricia J. Gregerson | $22,258 | $4,498 | -79.8% |
| Layne R. Noser | $4,431 | $4,431 | 0% |
| Dillon F. Schroth | $13,277 | $4,320 | -67.5% |
| Mitchell A. Paulsen | $21,201 | $4,310 | -79.7% |
| Mitchell Lee Paulsen | $20,866 | $4,310 | -79.3% |
| Paul E Schnose | $17,576 | $4,292 | -75.6% |
| Steven Schnose | $26,926 | $4,292 | -84.1% |
| Timothy J. Sander | $17,072 | $4,058 | -76.2% |
| Charles Meiners | $12,025 | $4,011 | -66.6% |
| Mark Erickson | $2,603 | $3,971 | 52.6% |
| Glen A. Johnson | $15,983 | $3,968 | -75.2% |
| Robert W. Colgan | $13,250 | $3,965 | -70.1% |
| Marcel O'Connell | $3,836 | $3,836 | 0% |
| Iola J. Carter | $6,095 | $3,787 | -37.9% |
| Ty A. Neugebauer | $0 | $3,696 | -- |
| Adrian Ranch, LLC | $5,630 | $3,681 | -34.6% |
| Rittberger Trucking, LLC | $3,758 | $3,667 | -2.4% |
| Amanda I Dikoff | $20,834 | $3,577 | -82.8% |
| Tracy Bowman | $14,894 | $3,433 | -77% |
| Caleb R. Schroth | $9,306 | $3,430 | -63.1% |
| Marty Hunsaker | $0 | $3,410 | -- |
| Kurt E. Devries | $4,603 | $3,391 | -26.3% |
| On or Under, LLC | $3,075 | $3,361 | 9.3% |
| Terry Stombaugh | $4,314 | $3,358 | -22.2% |
| Zachary Freeman Rapp | $10,202 | $3,329 | -67.4% |
| Harvey L. Fitzgerald | $10,503 | $3,247 | -69.1% |
| Robert Hunsaker | $15,804 | $3,185 | -79.8% |
| John S. Allan | $17,805 | $3,184 | -82.1% |
| Randy T. Stombaugh | $8,285 | $3,064 | -63% |
| Paul I. Larson | $3,061 | $3,061 | 0% |
| Christine Erquiaga | $2,998 | $3,058 | 2% |
| Leo L Van Sambeek | $10,670 | $3,023 | -71.7% |
| Douglas Faaborg | $2,959 | $2,959 | 0% |
| Seth Edward Shorb | $0 | $2,804 | -- |
| Dixie Metz | $3,003 | $2,761 | -8.1% |
| James A. Lintz | $13,748 | $2,754 | -80% |
| Larry A. Vickers | $3,205 | $2,688 | -16.1% |
| Uly C Johnson | $11,088 | $2,626 | -76.3% |
| Zeimet Family Limited Partnership | $12,595 | $2,598 | -79.4% |
| John W. Beard | $9,744 | $2,596 | -73.4% |
| Knapp Ranch Holdings, LLC | $0 | $2,567 | -- |
| Western Fertilizer & Cordage, Inc. | $4,857 | $2,564 | -47.2% |
| Jace Woodward | $4,158 | $2,534 | -39.1% |
| Cort E. Baker | $10,109 | $2,487 | -75.4% |
| Judy Kretzschmar | $2,446 | $2,446 | 0% |
| William D. Nielsen | $7,476 | $2,392 | -68% |
| Francis C. Goelz | $2,354 | $2,354 | 0% |
| Baxter Lynn Boldon | $6,784 | $2,282 | -66.4% |
| Mary Hyde | $0 | $2,271 | -- |
| Hansen Revocable Trust | $5,673 | $2,194 | -61.3% |
| Terry Ellerton | $6,446 | $2,192 | -66% |
| Judy Cox - Sample | $2,156 | $2,181 | 1.2% |
| Donald Melvin Fletcher Estate | $2,433 | $2,143 | -11.9% |
| Alan Mielke | $5,719 | $1,945 | -66% |
| Todd a Suhn | $10,164 | $1,894 | -81.4% |
| Kevin Reindl | $8,107 | $1,867 | -77% |
| David O. Uhrig | $8,110 | $1,848 | -77.2% |
| Robert Hartshorn | $6,897 | $1,840 | -73.3% |
| Vernon E. Schlecht | $2,187 | $1,814 | -17.1% |
| Tranda Frieling Nelssen | $3,588 | $1,809 | -49.6% |
| Breezy R Blome | $4,474 | $1,806 | -59.6% |
| Tim L. Wahle | $6,644 | $1,790 | -73.1% |
| Irene Wilson Tr | $1,286 | $1,777 | 38.2% |
| Steve Simpson | $4,785 | $1,697 | -64.5% |
| Kyle Thum | $1,613 | $1,613 | 0% |
| Gerald Gorman | $2,311 | $1,569 | -32.1% |
| Casey T. Brazell | $7,304 | $1,568 | -78.5% |
| Harold E. Carda | $4,078 | $1,566 | -61.6% |
| Betty Ott | $11,130 | $1,551 | -86.1% |
| J- Land & Cattle LLC, PAC | $7,657 | $1,522 | -80.1% |
| Nathaniel W. Livermont | $10,615 | $1,506 | -85.8% |
| Wyatt Gene Blome | $0 | $1,471 | -- |
| Calvin L. Walsh | $2,271 | $1,465 | -35.5% |
| Jacey J. Woodward | $7,194 | $1,430 | -80.1% |
| Clinton G Dikoff | $5,412 | $1,427 | -73.6% |
| Jim Iversen | $5,853 | $1,407 | -76% |
| Zane C. Boldon | $4,807 | $1,358 | -71.7% |
| Ferol Mcclaren | $1,428 | $1,297 | -9.2% |
| Eugene J Mikuska | $3,418 | $1,296 | -62.1% |
| Alan E. Johnson | $3,575 | $1,256 | -64.9% |
| Travis Baker | $5,159 | $1,232 | -76.1% |
| David A. Galdo | $4,974 | $1,228 | -75.3% |
| Charles T. Patterson | $3,403 | $1,205 | -64.6% |
| Herbert G. Kaiser | $5,995 | $1,194 | -80.1% |
| Larry D Hoegermeyer | $4,625 | $1,170 | -74.7% |
| Jason L. Hunsaker | $5,805 | $1,132 | -80.5% |
| CBBB, LLC | $1,381 | $1,129 | -18.2% |
| Gary Eugene Baker | $0 | $1,094 | -- |
| Robert J. Dugan | $1,525 | $1,044 | -31.5% |
| Ron Emerson | $4,290 | $1,042 | -75.7% |
| Stanley L. Diebel | $1,024 | $1,024 | 0% |
| Clarence Handel | $5,412 | $1,010 | -81.3% |
| Colton Chad Jones | $531 | $974 | 83.4% |
| Richard Roy Redetzke | $4,829 | $972 | -79.9% |
| Cory C. Ferguson | $4,851 | $930 | -80.8% |
| Franklin Dooley | $4,356 | $910 | -79.1% |
| Christopher A. Cooper | $3,907 | $891 | -77.2% |
| John E. Baker | $6,287 | $821 | -86.9% |
| Judith Melanie Giberson | $1,933 | $788 | -59.2% |
| Ella Goldammer | $1,220 | $780 | -36.1% |
| Eugene L. Deyo | $1,548 | $771 | -50.2% |
| Ken R. Couch | $0 | $727 | -- |
| Gerald Woodford | $7,319 | $727 | -90.1% |
| Connie S. Snyder | $2,063 | $726 | -64.8% |
| Gerald Baldwin | $724 | $723 | -0.1% |
| Gerald Kocer | $644 | $720 | 11.8% |
| Ervin Goldammer | $2,948 | $710 | -75.9% |
| Alicia A. Kunz | $5,373 | $700 | -87% |
| Kelly J. Baker | $1,859 | $699 | -62.4% |
| Frank Schroth | $3,322 | $686 | -79.3% |
| Lloyd Nickels Jr. | $3,113 | $677 | -78.3% |
| Craig Reindl | $3,124 | $658 | -78.9% |
| Billie Jo Fees | $2,959 | $629 | -78.7% |
| Merle E. Holden | $762 | $616 | -19.2% |
| William R. Ferguson | $3,522 | $604 | -82.9% |
| James F. Preston | $4,963 | $568 | -88.6% |
| Evan L. Gallentine | $2,541 | $520 | -79.5% |
| Luke Hewett | $2,640 | $506 | -80.8% |
| Borderlands Corporation | $2,387 | $478 | -80% |
| Jessica Gail Cuny | $676 | $451 | -33.3% |
| Brad Baker | $1,258 | $446 | -64.5% |
| Heath Reindl | $2,145 | $440 | -79.5% |
| James M. Jacobs | $2,155 | $427 | -80.2% |
| Steven C. Cullum | $2,072 | $394 | -81% |
| Sterling Riggins | $2,327 | $394 | -83.1% |
| Mary Ann Hastings | $2,233 | $373 | -83.3% |
| Casey Ellerton | $1,870 | $364 | -80.5% |
| Christopher J. Novak | $1,155 | $350 | -69.7% |
| Marion a Bangsund Trust | $330 | $330 | 0% |
| Jaret J. Woodward | $1,573 | $315 | -80% |
| Kori Lehrkamp | $3,735 | $315 | -91.6% |
| Blair Waite | $1,861 | $308 | -83.4% |
| John Carson | $3,152 | $307 | -90.3% |
| Penny Kane | $300 | $300 | 0% |
| Kyle J. Gregerson | $7,261 | $290 | -96% |
| Ronda Rae Parker | $1,243 | $270 | -78.3% |
| Robert L. Myers | $1,022 | $255 | -75% |
| Brand Jacob Baker | $1,051 | $254 | -75.8% |
| Darwin G. Schock | $3,168 | $252 | -92% |
| Christine M. Wolcott | $1,177 | $246 | -79.1% |
| Dennis Beighley | $1,177 | $246 | -79.1% |
| Lloyd E. Flock | $745 | $245 | -67.1% |
| Thomas H. Halbur | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| William D. Brazell | $452 | $230 | -49.1% |
| Mary Wheaton | $0 | $205 | -- |
| Randy Lee Guggisberg | $1,100 | $160 | -85.5% |
| Russell Bailey | $726 | $146 | -79.9% |
| Donley Hewett | $330 | $142 | -57% |
| Gale A. Beebe | $737 | $135 | -81.7% |
| Shirley F Varden-Kopka | $275 | $132 | -52% |
| Sheri L. Eudy | $0 | $125 | -- |
| Jene Harrison | $608 | $100 | -83.6% |
| Kally Lou Trump | $352 | $77 | -78.1% |
| JTC Ranch, LLLP | $215 | $72 | -66.5% |
| Michael J. Klosowski | $0 | $65 | -- |
| 7-11 Ranch, Inc. | $1,155 | $0 | -100% |
| Allen Cuny | $56,234 | $0 | -100% |
| Janis M Schnose | $9,350 | $0 | -100% |
| Kylene Elizabeth Baker | $165 | $0 | -100% |
| Lee Bergeson | $7,049 | $0 | -100% |
| Rich Knuppe | $22,413 | $0 | -100% |
| Travis Schroth | $5,093 | $0 | -100% |
| Trout Haven Ranch | $62,011 | $0 | -100% |
| Brenda Anderson | $663 | $0 | -100% |
| Dakota Greens Custer Greenhouses | $14,494 | $0 | -100% |
| Evergreen Ranching and Livestock | $56,138 | $0 | -100% |
| Herman F. Ninneman | $282 | $0 | -100% |
| Jerry Smedshammer | $25,477 | $0 | -100% |
| John Carlin | $4,785 | $0 | -100% |
| Linda L. Sukut | $59 | $0 | -100% |
| Peggy A. Smith | $505 | $0 | -100% |
| Randall K. Knox | $505 | $0 | -100% |
| Behrens Ranch Limited Liability C | $24,651 | $0 | -100% |
| Clayton Walter Maude | $431 | $0 | -100% |
| Donald Curtis Buffington Jr. | $28,073 | $0 | -100% |
| Eddie Powers | $1,265 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeana R. McIlroy | $1,462 | $0 | -100% |
| Joshua Astin | $2,255 | $0 | -100% |
| Lakota Springs Ranch, LLC | $3,208 | $0 | -100% |
| Ryan P. Burkinshaw | $6,666 | $0 | -100% |
| Seth Shorb | $660 | $0 | -100% |
| Thompson Grain Corporation | $3,307 | $0 | -100% |
| Tobias Garden, LLC | $5,189 | $0 | -100% |
| Wayne White | $3,927 | $0 | -100% |
| William Frueh | $43 | $0 | -100% |
| Debbie Weiker | $385 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $5,422,866 | $2,962,881 | -45.4% |
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