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In 2021, 52 farmers in cities within Slope County received a total of $1.7 million in 173 farm subsidies, a 16.2% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $2 million in 166 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Susann Powell | $193,011 | $185,767 | -3.8% |
| Jeff Powell | $193,008 | $185,765 | -3.8% |
| Sam Juntunen | $145,860 | $170,473 | 16.9% |
| Neil Gerbig | $79,682 | $105,209 | 32% |
| Donald J. Nordby | $93,222 | $86,972 | -6.7% |
| Joe Miller | $58,731 | $83,645 | 42.4% |
| Tom Juntunen | $44,710 | $61,318 | 37.1% |
| Matt Lambourn | $50,702 | $59,217 | 16.8% |
| Leon M. Hewson | $85,007 | $50,295 | -40.8% |
| Mike H. Sonsalla | $74,870 | $49,878 | -33.4% |
| Wayne Gerbig | $50,897 | $49,817 | -2.1% |
| Tellan Steffan | $36,982 | $43,213 | 16.8% |
| Farrell Lorge | $48,566 | $37,888 | -22% |
| Hope Mastel | $32,625 | $35,756 | 9.6% |
| Scott Bradac | $21,010 | $35,672 | 69.8% |
| Clint Curtis Grosz | $37,731 | $34,657 | -8.1% |
| Carl H. Meschke | $42,349 | $33,439 | -21% |
| Gary Miller | $50,265 | $32,905 | -34.5% |
| Leonard Fischer | $34,214 | $28,261 | -17.4% |
| Daniel Miller | $39,897 | $25,383 | -36.4% |
| Lazy Ey Ranch, LLP | $0 | $24,303 | -- |
| Scott Preston Ouradnik | $15,374 | $24,210 | 57.5% |
| Clark Land & Livestock, LLLP | $24,420 | $23,006 | -5.8% |
| Larry Lambourn | $22,201 | $22,317 | 0.5% |
| L Double Bar Ranch | $83,321 | $21,808 | -73.8% |
| Kevin Jay Bock | $60,232 | $20,148 | -66.5% |
| Shannon L. Hewson | $21,709 | $19,137 | -11.8% |
| Kevin Swanke | $60,106 | $18,249 | -69.6% |
| Frank Buzalsky | $28,732 | $17,237 | -40% |
| David H. Juntunen | $36,107 | $15,625 | -56.7% |
| Chase Fairbanks | $8,965 | $15,550 | 73.5% |
| Daniel Flor | $29,654 | $14,629 | -50.7% |
| Ryan Demorrett | $21,383 | $13,977 | -34.6% |
| Lauren Klewin | $9,612 | $10,870 | 13.1% |
| Richard Frederick | $8,041 | $8,359 | 4% |
| Gordon Gene Gerbig | $32,320 | $5,705 | -82.3% |
| Sharon a Kickertz Gerbig | $32,379 | $5,687 | -82.4% |
| Max Logan Robison | $4,811 | $5,652 | 17.5% |
| Daniel Fischer | $4,012 | $5,610 | 39.8% |
| Haley Jo Robison | $4,680 | $3,535 | -24.5% |
| Thomas W. Powers | $7,414 | $3,295 | -55.6% |
| Jack Kathrein | $0 | $3,063 | -- |
| Dorm Henders | $14,046 | $2,947 | -79% |
| Christopher John Minerich | $0 | $2,851 | -- |
| Shannon Leigh Minerich | $0 | $2,851 | -- |
| Vernon Brown | $29,827 | $2,520 | -91.6% |
| Sue Juntunen | $1,693 | $1,693 | 0% |
| Kenneth Lorge Estate | $480 | $1,246 | 159.6% |
| Miles Gene Gerbig | $5,960 | $1,125 | -81.1% |
| Ernest C. Holzemer | $1,824 | $850 | -53.4% |
| Jim Martin | $0 | $777 | -- |
| Kevin D. Uttech | $197 | $217 | 10.2% |
| Michael A. Holzemer | $530 | $0 | -100% |
| Sarah Nordby | $1,581 | $0 | -100% |
| Gene Hanson | $3,245 | $0 | -100% |
| Neyl Lee Eagon | $43,332 | $0 | -100% |
| Ron Eagon | $1,449 | $0 | -100% |
| Steven Brewer | $13,750 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $2,046,726 | $1,714,579 | -16.2% |
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