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In 2021, 48 farmers in cities within Gloucester County received a total of $893,420 in 83 farm subsidies, a 73.7% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $3.4 million in 145 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellacrest Farms, Inc. | $602,467 | $302,432 | -49.8% |
| Moods Farm Market, LLC | $14,886 | $113,832 | 664.7% |
| Green Family Farm, LLC | $21,436 | $106,282 | 395.8% |
| J. Gardiner Farms, LLC | $111,712 | $62,170 | -44.3% |
| Creamy Acres Farm, LLC | $47,672 | $40,860 | -14.3% |
| Lash Produce, LLC | $135,442 | $38,833 | -71.3% |
| David, David JR & Robert Williamson, PTR | $0 | $35,155 | -- |
| Dirt Farmer, Inc. | $0 | $33,994 | -- |
| Robert Muth | $0 | $33,443 | -- |
| T D Farms, LLC | $30,593 | $12,255 | -59.9% |
| David Ballinger | $16,688 | $9,960 | -40.3% |
| F B F Realty, LLC | $6,360 | $9,932 | 56.2% |
| John P Placendo III | $9,267 | $8,402 | -9.3% |
| Sam Tomarchio | $12,097 | $8,307 | -31.3% |
| Leonard Grasso T/ a Angelo Grasso & Son | $0 | $7,491 | -- |
| F & R Grasso, LLC | $209,839 | $7,375 | -96.5% |
| William Philip Reuter | $3,597 | $7,007 | 94.8% |
| James J. Rambo | $5,845 | $5,637 | -3.6% |
| Joseph M. Leshay | $23,778 | $5,300 | -77.7% |
| Magdalena Rivera | $0 | $5,300 | -- |
| Lester Shoemaker Jr. | $6,129 | $4,676 | -23.7% |
| Shirley W. Worden | $6,967 | $4,094 | -41.2% |
| Heilig Orchards, Inc. | $75,050 | $3,074 | -95.9% |
| Santo Joseph Maccherone | $0 | $2,582 | -- |
| Muth Farm Flowers, LLC | $0 | $2,369 | -- |
| Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm | $10,087 | $2,363 | -76.6% |
| James Farro | $5,802 | $2,152 | -62.9% |
| Diane Pioppi | $5,869 | $2,101 | -64.2% |
| George A. Thies Jr. | $2,253 | $1,864 | -17.3% |
| Round Tree Farm, LLC | $21,216 | $1,812 | -91.5% |
| Vivienne Kaye Bunkin | $4,734 | $1,772 | -62.6% |
| Henry McCann III | $3,471 | $1,693 | -51.2% |
| James Carmichael | $4,317 | $1,396 | -67.7% |
| Robert A. Gaines Jr. | $1,428 | $1,380 | -3.4% |
| Gary W. Stecher | $1,115 | $1,115 | 0% |
| Peplowski Fruit Farm, LLC | $7,270 | $969 | -86.7% |
| James Gaglianone | $877 | $877 | 0% |
| Jeffrey A. Thies | $1,206 | $731 | -39.4% |
| Heather King | $788 | $431 | -45.3% |
| Sorbello Farms, LLC | $8,091 | $377 | -95.3% |
| Phillip Yurgin | $275 | $367 | 33.5% |
| Sun Valley Orchards, LLC | $500,352 | $350 | -99.9% |
| Tracy Howe | $795 | $231 | -70.9% |
| Michael Spadea | $0 | $229 | -- |
| Norman E. Stiles | $943 | $185 | -80.4% |
| Gloria A. Knecht | $984 | $138 | -86% |
| Vito Genna Jr. | $113 | $113 | 0% |
| Sheila Brink | $33 | $12 | -63.6% |
| John R Banscher | $22,751 | $0 | -100% |
| Deeugenio Farms, LLC | $185,225 | $0 | -100% |
| Dorothy Rowand | $8,690 | $0 | -100% |
| Gala Farms, LLC | $73,363 | $0 | -100% |
| Stephen Rowand | $13,555 | $0 | -100% |
| Green Planet, Inc. | $2,480 | $0 | -100% |
| Leonard Grasso Angelo T. A. Grasso | $84,250 | $0 | -100% |
| Buster Petronglo & Son Farm, LLC | $114,166 | $0 | -100% |
| Ed Trionfo | $26,881 | $0 | -100% |
| Gorrell Brothers, LLC | $152,101 | $0 | -100% |
| J & E Petronglo & Sons, LLC | $215,138 | $0 | -100% |
| J M Ferrucci Nursery, LLC | $5,937 | $0 | -100% |
| Julie Bishop | $20,939 | $0 | -100% |
| Sepers Countryside Nursery, LLC | $91,298 | $0 | -100% |
| Sepers Nursery, LLC | $225,471 | $0 | -100% |
| Summer Wind Farms, LLC | $17,899 | $0 | -100% |
| G & G Stecher | $126,553 | $0 | -100% |
| Growtopia Farms, LLC | $63,179 | $0 | -100% |
| Wagonhouse Winery, LLC | $5,245 | $0 | -100% |
| Carol Savoie | $21,579 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $3,398,544 | $893,420 | -73.7% |
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