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In 2021, 244 farmers in cities within Mecklenburg County received a total of $1.2 million in 388 farm subsidies, a 60% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $3 million in 702 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 Mecklenburg County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baucom's Nursery Company | $0 | $250,000 | -- |
| Smith Brothers Farm of Matthews | $346,527 | $100,839 | -70.9% |
| Airport Warehouse at Charlotte, LLC | $0 | $74,418 | -- |
| Curtis Eberspacher | $50,001 | $49,796 | -0.4% |
| Bellaire Dynamik, LLC | $74,256 | $47,024 | -36.7% |
| Blackdirt Farm Management, LLC | $262,557 | $34,114 | -87% |
| K4 Cattle Company, LLC | $0 | $32,260 | -- |
| Eric Groen | $25,501 | $27,742 | 8.8% |
| Catherine Miller Stewart | $142,690 | $26,449 | -81.5% |
| Kris W. Frankum | $20,146 | $20,117 | -0.1% |
| Lorraine V. Egan | $14,028 | $15,753 | 12.3% |
| Houston Dairy | $30,351 | $15,718 | -48.2% |
| Sharon Johnson | $14,840 | $14,840 | 0% |
| L & S Investments of Wisconsin, LLP | $0 | $14,491 | -- |
| Ann H Fewin-Ann H Fewin Rev Trustee | $22,130 | $11,923 | -46.1% |
| T M Westmoreland & Sons | $22,499 | $11,233 | -50.1% |
| Sammy T. Thompson Jr. | $0 | $11,070 | -- |
| Charles - Lehman Family Trustee G Lehman | $29,503 | $10,682 | -63.8% |
| Donald B. Hutchins | $13,195 | $10,293 | -22% |
| Charles E. Hunter | $21,941 | $10,215 | -53.4% |
| Neil H Wurst Rev Trust | $9,127 | $9,127 | 0% |
| Hockensmith Farm | $8,626 | $8,626 | 0% |
| Print Management Group, LLC | $34,338 | $8,190 | -76.1% |
| Cookson Dairy Farm | $9,348 | $8,048 | -13.9% |
| Lynda F. White | $15,783 | $7,919 | -49.8% |
| E R Gebhart Revocable Trust | $21,432 | $7,588 | -64.6% |
| MA Ross Investments, LLC | $11,695 | $7,509 | -35.8% |
| Ninth Generation Limited, LLC | $48,492 | $7,458 | -84.6% |
| Jean E. Sperow | $4,926 | $7,112 | 44.4% |
| Robert R. Rhyne Jr. | $30,045 | $7,073 | -76.5% |
| Cuddy Cedar Ridge Farm, LLC | $7,286 | $7,023 | -3.6% |
| Brian Hill | $18,629 | $6,975 | -62.6% |
| Golden Spring Farm, Inc. | $26,044 | $6,946 | -73.3% |
| Daniel Caylor III | $6,506 | $6,506 | 0% |
| Block Family Trust | $27,647 | $6,374 | -76.9% |
| Drew Speer | $6,977 | $6,166 | -11.6% |
| Jane Streek | $6,350 | $6,129 | -3.5% |
| David W. Harris | $2,374 | $6,094 | 156.7% |
| Anna Beth McNabb | $17,527 | $5,968 | -65.9% |
| Elaine Diane Woods | $3,311 | $5,961 | 80% |
| Tew Farms, LLC | $0 | $5,921 | -- |
| Dan S. Grimes | $2,134 | $5,814 | 172.4% |
| Eric W. Reeves | $3,985 | $5,124 | 28.6% |
| Wood-Foster Farm, LLC | $4,989 | $4,989 | 0% |
| Beaver Creek Farm, Inc. | $9,830 | $4,934 | -49.8% |
| Daniel R. Pait | $15,010 | $4,901 | -67.3% |
| Kevin Ellefson | $2,135 | $4,695 | 119.9% |
| Varner Farm | $20,527 | $4,484 | -78.2% |
| Janice L. Schwenke | $4,547 | $4,388 | -3.5% |
| B R Smith & Sons, LLC | $14,028 | $4,159 | -70.4% |
| Colbert-Flournoy, LLC | $4,109 | $4,109 | 0% |
| Linda Ruth Johnson Estate | $0 | $4,024 | -- |
| Tom Botts | $3,946 | $3,946 | 0% |
| Scott D. Boardman | $2,834 | $3,911 | 38% |
| Katie Jo Jones | $19,261 | $3,780 | -80.4% |
| Linda R. Johnson | $18,229 | $3,714 | -79.6% |
| Stephen D. Gay | $12,225 | $3,540 | -71% |
| Robert Carr Besh | $3,423 | $3,423 | 0% |
| Noel-Noel Fisher Family Legacy Trust Fisher | $0 | $3,378 | -- |
| Marian E. Beane | $0 | $3,361 | -- |
| HBR Farm Partners, LLC | $6,049 | $3,349 | -44.6% |
| Hancock Realty Partners, LLC | $11,358 | $3,190 | -71.9% |
| Elizabeth D. Turner | $6,518 | $3,152 | -51.6% |
| Patricia a Quist Revocable Trust Agreement | $0 | $3,094 | -- |
| Horn Living Trust | $5,532 | $3,084 | -44.3% |
| Nash Farm | $4,749 | $3,047 | -35.8% |
| Bradley L. Hurrell | $13,370 | $3,028 | -77.4% |
| Jacqueline A. Ponder | $0 | $2,914 | -- |
| Gardner Wayne Ivey | $7,571 | $2,862 | -62.2% |
| Charlene Kluvers | $2,633 | $2,816 | 7% |
| Orrin Wendell Edwards Jr. | $2,643 | $2,643 | 0% |
| NCK Recovery Properties, LLC | $2,615 | $2,615 | 0% |
| Lewis Homestead, LLC | $0 | $2,544 | -- |
| Boyd Eugene Berghaus | $2,514 | $2,484 | -1.2% |
| Ertel Family Farms, Inc. | $11,489 | $2,463 | -78.6% |
| Christina B. Terrell | $11,242 | $2,461 | -78.1% |
| Calvin L. Henderson | $0 | $2,421 | -- |
| Barnwell Samuel Ramsey | $15,080 | $2,413 | -84% |
| JNG Family Properties, LLC | $0 | $2,369 | -- |
| William Kress Query Jr. | $2,111 | $2,320 | 9.9% |
| Phyllis F. Munson | $3,318 | $2,284 | -31.2% |
| Evan M. Plyler | $4,446 | $2,272 | -48.9% |
| W E Bowles Family Limited Partnership | $1,352 | $2,222 | 64.3% |
| Virginia Lamb Trust | $7,114 | $2,210 | -68.9% |
| Joy H Reichman FM PTN, Ltd. | $0 | $2,147 | -- |
| Gloria L. Williamson | $5,320 | $2,013 | -62.2% |
| Able Family Rev Trust | $7,901 | $2,010 | -74.6% |
| Katherine Hannan Paul | $4,603 | $2,004 | -56.5% |
| Cheryl Block | $8,625 | $1,947 | -77.4% |
| Squeal, LLC | $1,923 | $1,923 | 0% |
| Robert C. Adams | $1,887 | $1,887 | 0% |
| Bruce P. Barkley | $4,838 | $1,795 | -62.9% |
| L D Rice Farms, Inc. | $7,862 | $1,767 | -77.5% |
| Joseph H. Patterson | $5,872 | $1,706 | -70.9% |
| Louise Chapin Silverstein | $4,559 | $1,669 | -63.4% |
| Lori Leanne Pelham | $2,686 | $1,649 | -38.6% |
| Lesle Camille Lindquist Nixon Rev Trust | $1,644 | $1,644 | 0% |
| White-Hickey-Onaitis Land Company | $4,201 | $1,513 | -64% |
| Carolyn Szabo Estate | $5,843 | $1,460 | -75% |
| Joyce Ehrenberger | $2,230 | $1,457 | -34.7% |
| Melinda Miles | $5,082 | $1,399 | -72.5% |
| Melissa Miles | $5,079 | $1,398 | -72.5% |
| Wingate Ranch, LLC | $2,375 | $1,331 | -44% |
| Linda K. Pollack | $2,668 | $1,271 | -52.4% |
| Sarajane Mccully | $1,857 | $1,210 | -34.8% |
| Dewitt County Land Trust BF1 | $4,918 | $1,204 | -75.5% |
| Festinger White Trust | $2,451 | $1,174 | -52.1% |
| William F Cartwright & Miriam Cartwright Irrev Trustee | $0 | $1,164 | -- |
| Huggins Place, LLC | $0 | $1,146 | -- |
| Cheryl A. Palmer | $3,907 | $1,143 | -70.7% |
| Lisa Elkins | $3,584 | $1,137 | -68.3% |
| Thomas R. Engstrom | $1,011 | $1,072 | 6% |
| Davis-Nisbet Partners, LLC | $1,057 | $1,057 | 0% |
| Earnest W. McBeth | $1,044 | $1,044 | 0% |
| Corbin Taylor Clemons | $5,152 | $1,038 | -79.9% |
| Ra Timber & Cattle, LLC | $7,580 | $1,020 | -86.5% |
| Sharon Teague | $1,499 | $1,018 | -32.1% |
| Peggy M. Ward | $1,001 | $1,001 | 0% |
| Amy Grissom, LLC | $2,872 | $986 | -65.7% |
| Hallie Walker | $0 | $953 | -- |
| Arthur Wayne Mauldin | $4,659 | $929 | -80.1% |
| Ann R. McCormick | $0 | $899 | -- |
| Linda Orr | $2,691 | $890 | -66.9% |
| Mary Sue Dunsford | $2,688 | $888 | -67% |
| Linda Blackwelder | $1,602 | $887 | -44.6% |
| J Bruce Haddock Farms, Inc. | $872 | $872 | 0% |
| Canyon Springs Agri-Business, LLC | $2,364 | $833 | -64.8% |
| Pamela Humphries Hill | $6,299 | $815 | -87.1% |
| Maple Knook Farms, LLC | $2,612 | $797 | -69.5% |
| Sue Holcomb | $2,482 | $794 | -68% |
| Ac Holdings Group, LLC | $792 | $792 | 0% |
| John Zartman, LLC | $4,336 | $784 | -81.9% |
| Mary Ellen Schubert | $3,204 | $770 | -76% |
| Thomas B. Henson | $0 | $770 | -- |
| Janet Ficken Karner | $3,360 | $769 | -77.1% |
| Roy R. Moore | $749 | $749 | 0% |
| Sandra B. Moore | $749 | $749 | 0% |
| Robert H Hale Family Limited Partnership | $0 | $740 | -- |
| Trevor R. Hopkins | $843 | $740 | -12.2% |
| David M. Lewis Jr. | $408 | $739 | 81.1% |
| Ray M. Holland | $3,910 | $725 | -81.5% |
| Phyllis Herring | $835 | $722 | -13.5% |
| Joseph H Gieker | $0 | $709 | -- |
| Lynn Wilson | $942 | $678 | -28% |
| Bobby Mitchell Masten | $669 | $669 | 0% |
| David Mills Boone | $1,094 | $659 | -39.8% |
| Clyde M. Smith | $619 | $656 | 6% |
| ATH Farms, LLC | $0 | $656 | -- |
| Edward L Newlin Trust | $2,639 | $623 | -76.4% |
| Frances Q. Walker | $616 | $616 | 0% |
| Herbert F. Meyer Jr. | $1,453 | $612 | -57.9% |
| David L. Black | $833 | $594 | -28.7% |
| Lanita K. Brown | $2,744 | $594 | -78.4% |
| Merry Beth Poore | $588 | $588 | 0% |
| Jim L. Tucker | $1,019 | $587 | -42.4% |
| Gregory Babb Kay | $1,826 | $552 | -69.8% |
| Samuel Neal Reed | $1,280 | $551 | -57% |
| Karl Ferguson | $1,413 | $537 | -62% |
| Geneva H. Beachum | $740 | $530 | -28.4% |
| Thad Reames Jr. | $3,153 | $530 | -83.2% |
| Dennis Tice | $516 | $516 | 0% |
| George Hazlett Jr. | $515 | $515 | 0% |
| Wiley W. Jones | $1,873 | $508 | -72.9% |
| Dillon Marlboro Properties, LLC | $1,164 | $501 | -57% |
| Ernest L. Long | $500 | $500 | 0% |
| Body Engineering, Inc. | $500 | $500 | 0% |
| Karen Chambers | $1,011 | $499 | -50.6% |
| Margaret W. Young | $0 | $476 | -- |
| Jerry Dunning | $463 | $463 | 0% |
| Joseph E. Black | $2,708 | $460 | -83% |
| Anthony David Kidd | $2,858 | $450 | -84.3% |
| Ted C. Coble | $808 | $433 | -46.4% |
| Nancy W. Walker | $417 | $417 | 0% |
| Stanley W. Smith | $924 | $416 | -55% |
| Jack K. Smith | $1,391 | $413 | -70.3% |
| James Troy Smith | $495 | $411 | -17% |
| Billy R. Ferguson | $3,385 | $408 | -87.9% |
| Andrew T. Golomb | $57 | $382 | 570.2% |
| Janice Hull | $1,501 | $382 | -74.6% |
| Richard Hambley | $389 | $377 | -3.1% |
| Thomas C. McCall | $528 | $375 | -29% |
| T. T. Moore Jr. | $3,318 | $365 | -89% |
| William E. Tucker Jr. | $338 | $338 | 0% |
| Jane W. Adams | $17 | $328 | 1,829.4% |
| Mettie S Spittle | $324 | $324 | 0% |
| Larry Fulton | $1,437 | $323 | -77.5% |
| Erving A. Strickland | $318 | $318 | 0% |
| John D. Glenn | $2,065 | $310 | -85% |
| Harry P. Bowen | $63 | $301 | 377.8% |
| William P. Barham | $641 | $283 | -55.9% |
| Ray G. Oehler | $2,391 | $257 | -89.3% |
| Claudia Craig | $581 | $257 | -55.8% |
| Charles D. Shaefer | $503 | $252 | -49.9% |
| CRM Holdings, LLC | $251 | $251 | 0% |
| WHM Holdings, LLC | $251 | $251 | 0% |
| Donald S. Eaker | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Marvin O. Wilson Jr. | $0 | $248 | -- |
| David Winner | $503 | $236 | -53.1% |
| Michael J. Winner | $503 | $236 | -53.1% |
| Vicki Delzell | $0 | $230 | -- |
| Craven R. Oehler | $913 | $225 | -75.4% |
| Birch L. Carlson | $0 | $224 | -- |
| Edward H. Lipford III | $0 | $224 | -- |
| Juanita K. Baldwin | $222 | $222 | 0% |
| Stuart A. Hodgeman Jr. | $394 | $219 | -44.4% |
| Donald H. Rice | $752 | $213 | -71.7% |
| Brenda B Jandebeur | $352 | $212 | -39.8% |
| William L. Webster | $833 | $203 | -75.6% |
| Ward H. Cagle | $734 | $194 | -73.6% |
| Eugene E Schneider Family Irrevocable Trust | $480 | $186 | -61.3% |
| Lavern E Schneider Family Irrevocable Trust | $480 | $186 | -61.3% |
| Mary Beth Harter Revocable Trust | $480 | $186 | -61.3% |
| Constance J. Oehler | $429 | $171 | -60.1% |
| Fred R. Ferguson | $1,133 | $169 | -85.1% |
| Marybelle Haynes | $687 | $151 | -78% |
| King's Grant 1763, LLC | $843 | $141 | -83.3% |
| Melissa A. Godfrey | $141 | $141 | 0% |
| Anne T. Kelly | $138 | $138 | 0% |
| Nancy L Team | $138 | $138 | 0% |
| Daryl Keith Gordon | $285 | $135 | -52.6% |
| Arctic Southern Farms, LLC | $2,140 | $126 | -94.1% |
| Stuart M. Jones | $425 | $126 | -70.4% |
| Joan R. Foley | $200 | $108 | -46% |
| Clapham Properties I, LLC | $75 | $100 | 33.3% |
| John Lathan Allison Jr. | $54 | $98 | 81.5% |
| MHB Properties, LLC | $153 | $95 | -37.9% |
| Sue B. Morrow | $0 | $84 | -- |
| Paul E. Anderson | $83 | $76 | -8.4% |
| Vonie Bishop | $147 | $68 | -53.7% |
| Roland S. Boyette Jr. | $65 | $65 | 0% |
| Nancy P. McCurdy | $102 | $47 | -53.9% |
| Judy Goodwin | $116 | $47 | -59.5% |
| Brandon C Bethards - Brandon Bethards Rev Trust | $1,624 | $46 | -97.2% |
| Laura Hampton Davis | $95 | $46 | -51.6% |
| Camille Burtis | $86 | $43 | -50% |
| Joseph D. Morrow Sr. | $58 | $42 | -27.6% |
| Martha Jean Marshall | $95 | $38 | -60% |
| Jennifer Ireland | $54 | $25 | -53.7% |
| Carol Mckibben Haun | $45 | $17 | -62.2% |
| Sandra A. Burr | $86 | $16 | -81.4% |
| Cathy Morgan Troublefield | $12 | $15 | 25% |
| Trudy A. Pullen | $18 | $13 | -27.8% |
| Steven D. Hanna | $0 | $11 | -- |
| Bobby L. Byrd | $244 | $9 | -96.3% |
| Ada Sanford | $367 | $0 | -100% |
| Anne Marie T. Martin | $395 | $0 | -100% |
| Astor Farms Incorporated | $80,738 | $0 | -100% |
| Carla E. Williams | $83 | $0 | -100% |
| Carol A. Washburn | $215 | $0 | -100% |
| Charlie M. Killian Jr. | $6,247 | $0 | -100% |
| City Mushroom Farms, LLC | $17,157 | $0 | -100% |
| Clarence R. Downey | $98 | $0 | -100% |
| Clean Juice, LLC | $500 | $0 | -100% |
| Crystal Thomas Metz | $92 | $0 | -100% |
| Cynthia J Blizewski | $2,018 | $0 | -100% |
| Daly Creek Farms, L.L.C. | $1,460 | $0 | -100% |
| Dennis Grey Cromer | $549 | $0 | -100% |
| Donald Kris Newton | $188 | $0 | -100% |
| Donald L. Oehler | $385 | $0 | -100% |
| Douglas L. Odom | $189 | $0 | -100% |
| Emmett C. Demby Jr. | $516 | $0 | -100% |
| Eric Wayne Weaver | $761 | $0 | -100% |
| Gary R. Rassel | $619 | $0 | -100% |
| Gregory Thompson | $2,018 | $0 | -100% |
| Honey House, LLC | $391 | $0 | -100% |
| Hugh Banks Lewis | $3,689 | $0 | -100% |
| James F. Alderman | $561 | $0 | -100% |
| James M & Madelyn B Ray Family Lieutenant | $5,063 | $0 | -100% |
| Janco Community Farms, LLC | $3,117 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeweus Craig | $2,487 | $0 | -100% |
| Joanne E Thompson Trust | $4,240 | $0 | -100% |
| Joe R. Taylor | $6,639 | $0 | -100% |
| John H. Caudle | $42,643 | $0 | -100% |
| John Hester | $133 | $0 | -100% |
| Justin M. Smiley | $2,875 | $0 | -100% |
| Kathy L. Hill | $314 | $0 | -100% |
| L & S Investments of Wisconsin LL | $44,800 | $0 | -100% |
| Linda S. Snyder | $280 | $0 | -100% |
| Mary Ann Stegall | $276 | $0 | -100% |
| Noel Fisher | $1,658 | $0 | -100% |
| Patricia a Quist Revocable Trust | $6,845 | $0 | -100% |
| Quail Foolish II, LLC | $2,563 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert H Hale Family Limited Part | $3,674 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert Thomas | $988 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert W. Ferguson | $440 | $0 | -100% |
| Sarah Lynch | $396 | $0 | -100% |
| Vaughn 'buck' Stevenson | $8,036 | $0 | -100% |
| Weidenmier Family Farm, LLC | $445 | $0 | -100% |
| William Alan Cochrane | $3,135 | $0 | -100% |
| William S. Coxe | $1,088 | $0 | -100% |
| Charlotte E Splawn Trust | $889 | $0 | -100% |
| Metrolina Greenhouses, Inc. | $750,000 | $0 | -100% |
| Nancy C. Brower | $156 | $0 | -100% |
| William F Cartwright & Miriam Car | $1,680 | $0 | -100% |
| Amy Clark | $1,493 | $0 | -100% |
| David Murray Rushing Jr. | $1,853 | $0 | -100% |
| Gene D Bray Family Trust | $4,152 | $0 | -100% |
| Jane S. Wensil | $1,965 | $0 | -100% |
| Melissa Ann Ross | $11,856 | $0 | -100% |
| Priscilla H. Reynolds | $4,695 | $0 | -100% |
| Rodney Lee Demby | $1,419 | $0 | -100% |
| Terri J Shidal | $229 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas E. Naumann | $572 | $0 | -100% |
| William P. Jacobson | $435 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $2,953,691 | $1,182,371 | -60% |
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