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In 2021, 207 farmers in cities within Bennett County received a total of $3.9 million in 560 farm subsidies, a 45.6% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $7.1 million in 665 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 Bennett County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geersen Ranch, LLC | $330,912 | $225,875 | -31.7% |
| Ireland Brothers | $416,065 | $202,061 | -51.4% |
| Porch Farm, Inc. | $211,503 | $175,706 | -16.9% |
| Thomas G. Ward | $74,928 | $135,433 | 80.8% |
| Slattery Brothers, Inc. | $233,749 | $130,092 | -44.3% |
| J-P Cattle Partnership | $191,391 | $121,666 | -36.4% |
| Merle E. Hicks | $140,641 | $105,938 | -24.7% |
| Kuxhaus Farm, Inc. | $121,513 | $96,838 | -20.3% |
| Charles Divan | $178,856 | $87,753 | -50.9% |
| Equal W, Inc. | $112,710 | $79,984 | -29% |
| Silver Ridge Tarentaise, Inc. | $98,727 | $72,930 | -26.1% |
| Kevin Hodson | $133,571 | $66,913 | -49.9% |
| Huddleston Cattle Company | $139,923 | $66,318 | -52.6% |
| Bonnie Risse | $190,073 | $59,320 | -68.8% |
| Dennis James Rous | $71,729 | $56,979 | -20.6% |
| Porch Grain, LLC | $87,964 | $56,865 | -35.4% |
| 5C Farm, LLC | $85,113 | $55,602 | -34.7% |
| Danny Bly Rous | $54,030 | $54,883 | 1.6% |
| Scott Divan | $157,301 | $53,277 | -66.1% |
| William Paul Livermont | $47,456 | $50,854 | 7.2% |
| Michael Hicks | $77,556 | $50,735 | -34.6% |
| Steven Rous | $71,489 | $49,188 | -31.2% |
| Eric B. Peil | $84,779 | $46,829 | -44.8% |
| Delbert Hicks | $70,178 | $45,616 | -35% |
| Levi Michael Mosher | $68,534 | $39,399 | -42.5% |
| Keith Louden | $76,141 | $39,173 | -48.6% |
| Paul Winter | $60,617 | $38,895 | -35.8% |
| Timothy Lessert | $21,241 | $38,385 | 80.7% |
| Livermont Brothers Incorporated | $107,268 | $36,956 | -65.5% |
| J Pauly Farming, Inc. | $39,790 | $36,654 | -7.9% |
| Klay Robert Harris | $65,592 | $35,961 | -45.2% |
| James H. Good | $72,646 | $35,954 | -50.5% |
| Kalen Wayne Harris | $65,797 | $35,911 | -45.4% |
| Leland Ray Pauly | $0 | $35,138 | -- |
| David L. Bakley | $67,844 | $34,883 | -48.6% |
| Roy Risse | $71,585 | $33,335 | -53.4% |
| Bryan Kent Cuny | $40,843 | $33,161 | -18.8% |
| Julie Porch | $52,559 | $32,081 | -39% |
| Todd Porch | $52,557 | $32,080 | -39% |
| Magnuson SD, Ltd. | $44,486 | $31,328 | -29.6% |
| Michael Joseph Keegan | $39,052 | $30,000 | -23.2% |
| Mary Kay Sell | $40,540 | $28,190 | -30.5% |
| Judd W. Schomp | $77,059 | $28,003 | -63.7% |
| Owen W. Olson | $39,109 | $26,702 | -31.7% |
| Ireland Land Corporation | $43,052 | $26,313 | -38.9% |
| Leo James Goss Jr. | $54,895 | $25,074 | -54.3% |
| Loren McMillan | $36,289 | $24,661 | -32% |
| Sharon S. Novak | $36,248 | $24,302 | -33% |
| Robert Scherer | $69,875 | $23,627 | -66.2% |
| Gerald J. Risse | $71,399 | $23,353 | -67.3% |
| Mr. Austin James Thayer | $55,274 | $22,983 | -58.4% |
| FSA FLP | $0 | $22,907 | -- |
| Trent Byrne | $47,161 | $21,363 | -54.7% |
| Colette Palmer | $33,590 | $21,006 | -37.5% |
| Sawyer Bly Rous | $20,758 | $20,607 | -0.7% |
| Jon Gregg | $41,784 | $20,416 | -51.1% |
| Beverly Byrne | $31,652 | $20,175 | -36.3% |
| Todd T. Byrne | $17,899 | $19,360 | 8.2% |
| Brenda Wilson | $19,311 | $19,083 | -1.2% |
| Lacreek Valley Ranch | $55,926 | $19,083 | -65.9% |
| Wayne Sterkel | $25,533 | $18,626 | -27.1% |
| Wade J. Livermont | $13,509 | $18,488 | 36.9% |
| Colin Kuxhaus | $26,457 | $18,447 | -30.3% |
| Asa Lee Hicks Jr. | $10,818 | $17,738 | 64% |
| Jason Thomas Fanning | $60,686 | $16,577 | -72.7% |
| Joseph Allen Waln | $55,476 | $15,165 | -72.7% |
| Slater J. Dekay | $27,492 | $14,702 | -46.5% |
| Rodney Rayhill | $15,093 | $14,631 | -3.1% |
| Kory Layne Rayhill | $15,023 | $14,618 | -2.7% |
| Dallas Louden | $20,139 | $14,588 | -27.6% |
| Alvin Frost | $27,720 | $14,517 | -47.6% |
| Andrea M. Fanning | $0 | $14,429 | -- |
| Kyle Wayne Harris | $44,940 | $14,309 | -68.2% |
| Candace Lynn Volmer | $35,340 | $13,979 | -60.4% |
| Jesse John Wilson | $65,682 | $13,872 | -78.9% |
| Anita L. Hicks | $13,333 | $13,808 | 3.6% |
| Danielle Pearl McDonnell | $35,464 | $13,142 | -62.9% |
| Marty Lynn Strand | $22,432 | $12,952 | -42.3% |
| Veldon R Thayer | $29,308 | $12,892 | -56% |
| Terry Livermont | $22,175 | $12,877 | -41.9% |
| William A. Porch | $35,432 | $11,892 | -66.4% |
| Nathan James Novak | $16,404 | $11,890 | -27.5% |
| Kristine L. Novak | $22,554 | $11,871 | -47.4% |
| Gerald Hines | $38,164 | $11,333 | -70.3% |
| FSA-Agent Credit | $0 | $10,995 | -- |
| Lukas Scott Divan | $0 | $10,520 | -- |
| Kevin Kuxhaus | $19,755 | $10,504 | -46.8% |
| FSA/FLP | $0 | $10,463 | -- |
| Daniel T. Fanning | $22,259 | $10,429 | -53.1% |
| Livermont Cattle Company | $38,248 | $10,370 | -72.9% |
| Anthony James Novak | $10,832 | $9,813 | -9.4% |
| Brett Heath | $80,345 | $9,387 | -88.3% |
| Carl Jackson | $41,470 | $9,358 | -77.4% |
| Tee J. Tetrault | $18,718 | $8,803 | -53% |
| Lynn Ward | $28,063 | $8,541 | -69.6% |
| Bo Tyler Sharp | $13,344 | $8,062 | -39.6% |
| John Ward | $29,600 | $7,470 | -74.8% |
| Garrett Woodrow Ward | $32,920 | $7,313 | -77.8% |
| Bennett Company FSA | $0 | $7,291 | -- |
| Delinda L. Simmons | $15,280 | $7,277 | -52.4% |
| Kelly Wade Boomer | $12,329 | $7,095 | -42.5% |
| Brad Otte | $22,930 | $6,985 | -69.5% |
| Bo Johnson | $12,662 | $6,641 | -47.6% |
| Garry Louden | $10,428 | $6,542 | -37.3% |
| Michael R. Harris | $18,911 | $6,345 | -66.4% |
| Thomas F. Beck | $8,508 | $5,421 | -36.3% |
| Sandra Huber | $15,024 | $4,844 | -67.8% |
| Sheila Hahn | $28,741 | $4,689 | -83.7% |
| Maxie Ann Bair | $11,055 | $4,418 | -60% |
| Robert R. Coyle | $20,519 | $4,330 | -78.9% |
| Joseph Coy Wilson | $22,732 | $3,964 | -82.6% |
| Kaitlyn D. Rayhill | $14,821 | $3,867 | -73.9% |
| Chula Vista Cattle, LLC | $18,669 | $3,801 | -79.6% |
| Charlene Nies | $1,221 | $3,703 | 203.3% |
| Cash Henry Cook | $6,022 | $3,676 | -39% |
| Alta Christensen | $4,883 | $3,634 | -25.6% |
| Earl Noel | $4,440 | $3,499 | -21.2% |
| Kenneth Cook | $14,630 | $3,482 | -76.2% |
| Aaron Joe Novotny | $6,274 | $3,455 | -44.9% |
| Brady L. Hicks | $0 | $3,454 | -- |
| Brian T. Kirk | $9,087 | $3,426 | -62.3% |
| William Hines | $8,370 | $3,405 | -59.3% |
| Kenneth Bolzer | $11,895 | $3,195 | -73.1% |
| Lynda Frost | $4,328 | $3,063 | -29.2% |
| Abraham Louis Novotny | $10,205 | $2,865 | -71.9% |
| Brent James Weber | $4,926 | $2,818 | -42.8% |
| Vera I. Scharman | $6,733 | $2,736 | -59.4% |
| Dorothy Hicks | $5,251 | $2,580 | -50.9% |
| Tagg J. Petrak | $7,645 | $2,418 | -68.4% |
| Janelle Waln | $29,273 | $2,411 | -91.8% |
| Maurice and Donna Nelsen Revocable Trust-Donna Nel | $0 | $2,350 | -- |
| Tyler J. Byrne | $11,341 | $2,350 | -79.3% |
| Courtney Sioux Hicks | $10,945 | $2,264 | -79.3% |
| Seth Cole Livermont | $9,801 | $2,194 | -77.6% |
| Tate Arthur William Petrak | $0 | $2,143 | -- |
| Thomas Nelson | $2,772 | $2,132 | -23.1% |
| Skyler D. Livermont | $0 | $2,071 | -- |
| Chaney Jo Kirk | $11,121 | $2,028 | -81.8% |
| Chad Kaltenbach | $15,490 | $1,838 | -88.1% |
| Myron L Heathershaw | $0 | $1,834 | -- |
| Carl Novotny | $8,508 | $1,800 | -78.8% |
| Cecil Babby | $1,698 | $1,719 | 1.2% |
| Ila Jean Konotopka | $3,826 | $1,676 | -56.2% |
| Layne Aaron Sharp | $2,057 | $1,523 | -26% |
| Dwayne Babby | $2,277 | $1,494 | -34.4% |
| Lola Wilcox | $5,830 | $1,488 | -74.5% |
| David Hauck | $2,761 | $1,470 | -46.8% |
| Raymond Kocer | $1,649 | $1,376 | -16.6% |
| Ralph Ryan Pettit | $4,311 | $1,195 | -72.3% |
| Glenn Hicks | $2,417 | $1,182 | -51.1% |
| Rayel Marie Livermont | $3,406 | $1,128 | -66.9% |
| Mary Kay Novotny | $6,251 | $1,094 | -82.5% |
| Samuel W. Smith | $3,099 | $1,042 | -66.4% |
| Jason James Fairhead | $2,739 | $1,022 | -62.7% |
| Michael L. Hein | $2,103 | $1,021 | -51.5% |
| Tyler Lane Goss | $4,873 | $1,018 | -79.1% |
| Keith Hodson | $6,127 | $1,015 | -83.4% |
| Justin Sharp | $4,433 | $952 | -78.5% |
| Cody James Ferguson | $4,444 | $931 | -79.1% |
| Alfred Lee Riggs | $1,105 | $915 | -17.2% |
| Martha Riggs | $1,105 | $915 | -17.2% |
| Jan D. Gregg | $2,392 | $870 | -63.6% |
| Guy Fransua | $4,114 | $864 | -79% |
| Troy Martin | $1,264 | $854 | -32.4% |
| Kiel Cook | $3,344 | $796 | -76.2% |
| Korey Cook | $3,344 | $796 | -76.2% |
| Mosher Ranch, Inc. | $2,895 | $760 | -73.7% |
| Jerry Grass | $1,544 | $756 | -51% |
| Waldo Warriner | $2,981 | $606 | -79.7% |
| Ray A. Mansfield | $2,046 | $602 | -70.6% |
| Steven Leroy Hicks | $7,561 | $578 | -92.4% |
| Jacoby L Heathershaw | $572 | $575 | 0.5% |
| Jay Nies | $2,552 | $554 | -78.3% |
| Adrienne Dawn Hicks | $0 | $523 | -- |
| Maxine Jacob | $3,157 | $523 | -83.4% |
| Cody J. Allen | $2,420 | $485 | -80% |
| Dyson H. Schofield | $2,420 | $485 | -80% |
| Brad Lee Sharp | $2,189 | $481 | -78% |
| Marty McCollam | $958 | $459 | -52.1% |
| Myron W. Nelson | $932 | $455 | -51.2% |
| Sharlene May | $962 | $430 | -55.3% |
| Dave Jones | $924 | $425 | -54% |
| Nicole Novak | $2,809 | $417 | -85.2% |
| Calvin D. Clifford | $2,013 | $391 | -80.6% |
| Michael Lynn Marrs | $1,661 | $353 | -78.7% |
| Jesse J. Ulmer | $2,501 | $345 | -86.2% |
| Tae F Heathershaw | $935 | $341 | -63.5% |
| Bodey Cooper Waln | $1,397 | $301 | -78.5% |
| Jerald Lyon | $896 | $295 | -67.1% |
| Dennis Gregg | $6,826 | $247 | -96.4% |
| Linn McCoy | $500 | $245 | -51% |
| Shawn Michael Marrs | $1,210 | $242 | -80% |
| Susan Lewis | $1,210 | $242 | -80% |
| Martin J Vanderploeg Rev Living Trust | $0 | $223 | -- |
| Rockie L. Smith | $442 | $216 | -51.1% |
| Jolene Donovan | $417 | $204 | -51.1% |
| Doug O'Bryan | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Clarence Allen | $1,562 | $154 | -90.1% |
| Karissa H. Rayhill | $1,495 | $138 | -90.8% |
| Keisha Rayhill | $1,165 | $128 | -89% |
| Dixie Pearl Heathershaw | $484 | $97 | -80% |
| Kassidy Rae Heathershaw | $543 | $90 | -83.4% |
| Raven Grace Heathershaw | $363 | $73 | -79.9% |
| James Buckles | $251 | $68 | -72.9% |
| Patrick Leroy Rous | $0 | $13 | -- |
| B & R Livestock Auction Services, LLC | $0 | $5 | -- |
| Elmer Simmons | $68 | $4 | -94.1% |
| Kelly Wade Boomer | $16,557 | $0 | -100% |
| Kenneth Livermont | $34,465 | $0 | -100% |
| Anthony Heath | $5,764 | $0 | -100% |
| B & R Livestock Auction Services | $1,260 | $0 | -100% |
| Brian D. Jaeger | $1,071 | $0 | -100% |
| Chase Ryan Strand | $55 | $0 | -100% |
| Cook Cattle Company, LLC | $143,428 | $0 | -100% |
| Fsa-Flp | $506 | $0 | -100% |
| Gary Nies | $4,119 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeremy Preston Hicks | $4,433 | $0 | -100% |
| Leland Pauly | $75,157 | $0 | -100% |
| Lukas Divan | $18,104 | $0 | -100% |
| Martin J Vanderploeg Rev Living T | $7,824 | $0 | -100% |
| Maurice and Donna Nelsen Revocabl | $4,676 | $0 | -100% |
| Ms. Nichole Marie Christensen | $3,427 | $0 | -100% |
| Steven Beck | $1,705 | $0 | -100% |
| Tate Aruther William Petrak | $6,204 | $0 | -100% |
| Ward Family Ranch, LLC | $54,392 | $0 | -100% |
| William Chief Bear | $924 | $0 | -100% |
| William Kocourek | $215 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $7,101,324 | $3,865,927 | -45.6% |
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