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In 2021, 55 farmers in cities within Bandera County received a total of $277,947 in 106 farm subsidies, a 38.6% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $452,424 in 162 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Mcrae Trust | $115,774 | $66,413 | -42.6% |
| Hoby Craddock | $17,908 | $19,935 | 11.3% |
| Bryan Neff | $18,837 | $18,837 | 0% |
| Texas Trust | $35,956 | $18,472 | -48.6% |
| Glynn Rainey | $22,568 | $14,756 | -34.6% |
| Robert Mazurek | $9,125 | $13,305 | 45.8% |
| Louis J. Haby | $31,913 | $12,561 | -60.6% |
| Serena S Whitewood | $12,315 | $11,467 | -6.9% |
| Langford Properties, Ltd. | $3,642 | $7,417 | 103.7% |
| Karla Connor Rev Trust | $16,110 | $6,995 | -56.6% |
| Anthony Tschirhart | $3,531 | $6,590 | 86.6% |
| Monier Ranch, Ltd. | $13,093 | $5,682 | -56.6% |
| Kenneth Welch | $1,506 | $5,604 | 272.1% |
| 71 Ranch, LLC | $0 | $5,364 | -- |
| Daniel R. Anderson Jr. | $5,780 | $4,958 | -14.2% |
| Elizabeth Mcrae Trust | $5,633 | $4,663 | -17.2% |
| Middle Verde Ranch Company LC | $6,923 | $4,179 | -39.6% |
| Booker Young | $10,957 | $4,032 | -63.2% |
| Todd Whitewood | $5,595 | $3,483 | -37.7% |
| George W. Sandidge | $2,315 | $2,782 | 20.2% |
| Ranch Branch Partnership | $3,341 | $2,709 | -18.9% |
| Billy C. Griffin Jr. | $5,849 | $2,660 | -54.5% |
| Ray Lee Hutcheson | $12,404 | $2,549 | -79.5% |
| Brad Osburn | $3,952 | $2,378 | -39.8% |
| Jane N Allert Estate | $9,203 | $2,355 | -74.4% |
| John L. Monier | $1,453 | $1,854 | 27.6% |
| Karen K. Zickler | $1,638 | $1,850 | 12.9% |
| Daugherty Family Irrevocable Trust | $0 | $1,808 | -- |
| Ruth Tschirhart | $2,388 | $1,700 | -28.8% |
| Mark E. Lacy | $0 | $1,671 | -- |
| James Newton | $6,512 | $1,490 | -77.1% |
| Frank Wehmeyer Jr. | $7,005 | $1,395 | -80.1% |
| Matthew Krueger | $0 | $1,356 | -- |
| Kenneth D. Cage | $0 | $1,275 | -- |
| Hannah Crowell | $1,143 | $1,241 | 8.6% |
| Marian McCurdy | $0 | $1,080 | -- |
| Mark Allert | $0 | $1,080 | -- |
| Mike Keneson | $2,558 | $1,058 | -58.6% |
| Mae Nell Avery | $2,283 | $1,057 | -53.7% |
| Jim and Mae Avery Revocable Trust | $625 | $937 | 49.9% |
| R W Halfmann Enterprises, LLC | $6,989 | $908 | -87% |
| Tanya Lea Mossburgh | $1,990 | $876 | -56% |
| John L. Bitting | $3,226 | $842 | -73.9% |
| Tracy W. Gourley | $1,533 | $750 | -51.1% |
| Colby J. Miller | $0 | $585 | -- |
| Sharon Hillmeyer | $544 | $544 | 0% |
| Jerry F. Green | $1,038 | $466 | -55.1% |
| David Miner | $1,682 | $452 | -73.1% |
| Samuel J. Bell | $1,155 | $358 | -69% |
| Clint D. Koenig | $308 | $310 | 0.6% |
| Carolyn Marie Stephenson | $1,651 | $270 | -83.6% |
| Todd D. Sandidge | $702 | $176 | -74.9% |
| Bill D. Orr | $0 | $157 | -- |
| Kevin Cuyler | $429 | $142 | -66.9% |
| Alana C. Drew | $113 | $113 | 0% |
| Almon H & Emma Jean Heep Trust B | $4,672 | $0 | -100% |
| Dale Naumann | $1,570 | $0 | -100% |
| Daugherty Family Irrevocable Trus | $7,630 | $0 | -100% |
| David E. Heep | $4,672 | $0 | -100% |
| James S. Anderwald | $994 | $0 | -100% |
| James W. Dodson | $5,469 | $0 | -100% |
| Jane N. Allert | $336 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark Howell | $62 | $0 | -100% |
| Preston D. Jennings | $5,397 | $0 | -100% |
| Tana Jureczki | $427 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $452,424 | $277,947 | -38.6% |
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