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In 2021, 64 farmers in cities within Reagan County received a total of $2.1 million in 159 farm subsidies, a 45.4% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $3.8 million in 240 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| J & J Cattle Company | $624,634 | $211,096 | -66.2% |
| Hickman Ranch | $297,406 | $202,377 | -32% |
| Dan Schneemann | $153,476 | $121,526 | -20.8% |
| DSB Farms | $133,212 | $118,714 | -10.9% |
| Schneemann Bros | $158,094 | $99,117 | -37.3% |
| Phillip & Judy Bales Farms | $297,368 | $95,294 | -68% |
| Michalewicz Farms, Inc. | $122,225 | $92,679 | -24.2% |
| Daniel Michalewicz | $44,438 | $83,425 | 87.7% |
| JTH Holt Cattle Company, LLC | $170,232 | $82,896 | -51.3% |
| Down Yonder Ranch, Inc. | $140,105 | $59,418 | -57.6% |
| MPS Lands, Inc. | $69,437 | $50,280 | -27.6% |
| Chico Company | $69,195 | $49,234 | -28.8% |
| Streicher Farms, Inc. | $62,750 | $48,802 | -22.2% |
| Whit Braden | $94,654 | $47,627 | -49.7% |
| Elkins Ranch, LLC | $0 | $47,494 | -- |
| Michael Streicher | $96,305 | $46,589 | -51.6% |
| Rusty Owens | $71,339 | $44,649 | -37.4% |
| Lashae L. Braden | $55,651 | $44,272 | -20.4% |
| Shawna Braden | $40,616 | $38,356 | -5.6% |
| Patrick Strauss | $46,028 | $34,786 | -24.4% |
| Martin County Usda/FSA | $146,131 | $33,898 | -76.8% |
| Anastacio Perez IV | $40,369 | $32,644 | -19.1% |
| Wilde Family Properties, Ltd. | $46,744 | $31,627 | -32.3% |
| Floyd & Martha Schwartz Farms | $29,404 | $31,572 | 7.4% |
| Aaron J. Michalewicz | $42,634 | $31,113 | -27% |
| Jackson Tax-Free Trust | $4,273 | $28,689 | 571.4% |
| Santa Maria Cattle Company, LLC | $58,093 | $26,968 | -53.6% |
| James T. O'Bryan | $39,053 | $26,669 | -31.7% |
| WLB Farms, Inc. | $44,112 | $25,092 | -43.1% |
| Karen Streicher | $52,324 | $21,203 | -59.5% |
| Stephanie Strauss | $23,077 | $17,276 | -25.1% |
| W. L. Strauss | $19,312 | $17,276 | -10.5% |
| Alberto Perez | $20,864 | $13,134 | -37% |
| Eugene Vinson | $34,434 | $11,071 | -67.8% |
| Floyd & Martha Schwartz LP | $11,155 | $10,815 | -3% |
| Susan Schwertner | $11,996 | $8,799 | -26.7% |
| Thomas D. Strube | $19,695 | $8,799 | -55.3% |
| Anastacio Perez III | $10,027 | $8,436 | -15.9% |
| Justin E. Weatherly | $0 | $7,294 | -- |
| Davidson Ranch | $21,464 | $7,198 | -66.5% |
| Nolan G. Adams Jr. | $11,672 | $4,969 | -57.4% |
| Moorhouse Ferguson General Partnership | $0 | $4,871 | -- |
| Jimmy Matthews | $6,996 | $4,849 | -30.7% |
| Michael Browne | $3,032 | $4,324 | 42.6% |
| Arla M. Schwertner | $6,972 | $4,248 | -39.1% |
| Larry Heintzelman | $7,105 | $3,390 | -52.3% |
| Ruth Strube | $57 | $3,374 | 5,819.3% |
| Robert Michalewicz | $10,783 | $3,248 | -69.9% |
| Randy McPhaul | $18,862 | $3,068 | -83.7% |
| Ruth J. Strube | $402 | $2,574 | 540.3% |
| Donald Braden | $28,314 | $2,428 | -91.4% |
| Jack Dunlap | $1,698 | $1,605 | -5.5% |
| George Craigmile Menzies V | $0 | $1,208 | -- |
| Salome Salcido | $2,931 | $941 | -67.9% |
| Guy L. Yocham | $907 | $895 | -1.3% |
| Western Ranch Company | $3,850 | $804 | -79.1% |
| William R. Ferguson | $2,567 | $637 | -75.2% |
| L S 7 Cattle Company | $2,506 | $565 | -77.5% |
| Jed W. Hruska | $3,131 | $456 | -85.4% |
| Crystal Danette Quinney | $130 | $173 | 33.1% |
| Jamice Sharletta Collins | $129 | $172 | 33.3% |
| Thomas Eugene Thompson Estate | $886 | $164 | -81.5% |
| Daniel Dunlap | $2,263 | $128 | -94.3% |
| Joyce Quinney | $2,246 | $128 | -94.3% |
| Bradley Thomas Bynum | $5,775 | $0 | -100% |
| Elkins Brothers | $34,768 | $0 | -100% |
| Gary L. Streicher | $30,082 | $0 | -100% |
| J F Ranch Company | $123,643 | $0 | -100% |
| Lange & Schwartz Farms, Inc. | $158 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark Henderson | $146 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael S. Fortenberry | $605 | $0 | -100% |
| Moorhouse Ferguson General Partne | $47,878 | $0 | -100% |
| Rocky Thompson | $371 | $0 | -100% |
| Wayne Smith | $139 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $3,783,330 | $2,067,423 | -45.4% |
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