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In 2021, 135 farmers in cities within Washington County received a total of $843,094 in 210 farm subsidies, a 76.4% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $3.6 million in 460 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 Washington County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason's Chrome View Limited | $476,916 | $153,287 | -67.9% |
| Craig, Charles - C & E Farm | $249,485 | $117,020 | -53.1% |
| Jeffrey Sensenig | $77,866 | $54,654 | -29.8% |
| Thomas R. Lawrence | $67,653 | $46,902 | -30.7% |
| Jordan Lustik | $51,228 | $32,853 | -35.9% |
| Paul D. Sensenig | $45,934 | $29,832 | -35.1% |
| Michael R. Lusk | $25,641 | $26,816 | 4.6% |
| Shawn P. Georgetti | $30,988 | $22,679 | -26.8% |
| Isaac B. Lapp | $27,631 | $22,275 | -19.4% |
| Robert Mungai | $19,705 | $19,705 | 0% |
| Mary Ann Bongiorni | $19,222 | $19,222 | 0% |
| Ryan E. Rohrer | $49,934 | $17,530 | -64.9% |
| Robert E. Rohrer | $46,506 | $17,292 | -62.8% |
| Glenknockie Family LP | $15,224 | $15,224 | 0% |
| Kearns Farms, LLC | $71,537 | $13,413 | -81.3% |
| Fava Dairy Farm, LLC | $85,402 | $13,226 | -84.5% |
| George J. Turak | $11,922 | $11,922 | 0% |
| Linden Creek Dairy, LLC | $42,930 | $11,722 | -72.7% |
| Hamilton Brothers | $160,239 | $10,044 | -93.7% |
| Glenroy Farm LP | $19,476 | $7,814 | -59.9% |
| Raymond J. Zalaznik | $7,151 | $7,151 | 0% |
| Bernard R. Teagarden | $6,847 | $6,847 | 0% |
| Wayne Cumer | $5,631 | $6,595 | 17.1% |
| Robert W. Smith | $6,589 | $6,589 | 0% |
| Kevin M. Barnhart | $6,849 | $6,518 | -4.8% |
| Jonas J. Stoltzfus | $0 | $6,354 | -- |
| Rush Run Farm | $135,583 | $4,875 | -96.4% |
| Timothy Yilit | $12,126 | $4,377 | -63.9% |
| Robert L. Williams | $6,872 | $4,363 | -36.5% |
| Leslie P Midla | $16,049 | $4,006 | -75% |
| William R. Litman | $21,698 | $3,984 | -81.6% |
| Matthew P Brigich SR | $5,241 | $3,756 | -28.3% |
| Dale W. Tudor | $6,302 | $3,648 | -42.1% |
| Richard L. Martin Jr. | $0 | $3,520 | -- |
| David H. Gates | $9,156 | $3,488 | -61.9% |
| Gene R. Sheller | $4,494 | $3,420 | -23.9% |
| Samuel R. Minor | $78,552 | $3,291 | -95.8% |
| James B. MacBeth | $3,968 | $3,222 | -18.8% |
| Oren W. Smith | $5,841 | $3,103 | -46.9% |
| Robert L. Smith | $11,953 | $3,048 | -74.5% |
| Mary Ann Jesse | $2,984 | $2,984 | 0% |
| Douglas E. Horne | $4,574 | $2,972 | -35% |
| John H. Stritzinger | $5,993 | $2,915 | -51.4% |
| George a Chechuck | $6,324 | $2,896 | -54.2% |
| Gretta Macintyre | $2,857 | $2,857 | 0% |
| DJPJS, LLC | $18,915 | $2,565 | -86.4% |
| Dawn L. Brownlee | $3,764 | $2,340 | -37.8% |
| Becky Hrutkay | $7,503 | $2,255 | -69.9% |
| Putnam L. Foley | $7,962 | $2,191 | -72.5% |
| Shirley Miller A. Bedillion | $426 | $2,073 | 386.6% |
| Stewart Trust U/W of Lavonne | $9,389 | $1,958 | -79.1% |
| Gerald Brownlee | $6,621 | $1,938 | -70.7% |
| John E Marchezak | $31,945 | $1,785 | -94.4% |
| Tonya Martin | $1,725 | $1,725 | 0% |
| Richard M. Bednarski | $3,050 | $1,594 | -47.7% |
| Kenneth R. Baumgardner | $1,446 | $1,393 | -3.7% |
| John W. Yates | $4,721 | $1,382 | -70.7% |
| Paul T. Midler | $18,157 | $1,373 | -92.4% |
| Richard E. Neill | $0 | $1,361 | -- |
| Larry Midler | $3,815 | $1,326 | -65.2% |
| Gerald N. Zimmerman | $1,296 | $1,296 | 0% |
| Shane B. Moore | $3,673 | $1,217 | -66.9% |
| Rex W. Smith | $1,728 | $1,192 | -31% |
| William Guy Cowden | $5,176 | $1,131 | -78.1% |
| Lowden Farm, LLC | $4,934 | $1,118 | -77.3% |
| Paul Sharkady JR | $3,559 | $1,084 | -69.5% |
| Mike Midler | $4,437 | $1,046 | -76.4% |
| Neil Vaglia | $2,966 | $1,044 | -64.8% |
| Paul L. Myers | $3,729 | $1,003 | -73.1% |
| Henry W. Holets | $5,055 | $976 | -80.7% |
| Kenneth R. Kearns | $3,611 | $968 | -73.2% |
| Oscar Miller | $3,891 | $923 | -76.3% |
| Charles S. Turner | $3,069 | $917 | -70.1% |
| Kris a Vanderman | $4,191 | $904 | -78.4% |
| Barnyard Petting Zoo and Pony Rides, LLC | $0 | $895 | -- |
| Charles B. Johnston | $13,971 | $882 | -93.7% |
| Michael Nick | $2,508 | $881 | -64.9% |
| Lukich Farm | $5,730 | $834 | -85.4% |
| Paul J. Cheslock | $2,493 | $827 | -66.8% |
| Dennis Barney | $4,926 | $820 | -83.4% |
| Robert R. Orsatti Sr. | $8,380 | $818 | -90.2% |
| James D. Byrne | $3,236 | $792 | -75.5% |
| Deborah A. Waller | $0 | $774 | -- |
| Donald R. Ross Jr. | $2,040 | $771 | -62.2% |
| Ronald L West | $3,618 | $755 | -79.1% |
| John J Chechuck | $20,561 | $754 | -96.3% |
| Mark W. Adams | $3,533 | $747 | -78.9% |
| High Ridge Farm, LLC | $4,049 | $746 | -81.6% |
| John E Sczechowicz | $733 | $733 | 0% |
| Ronald S Anestis | $3,833 | $722 | -81.2% |
| Clark Coates | $2,512 | $714 | -71.6% |
| Mary Lou Williams | $719 | $698 | -2.9% |
| David W. Ealy | $3,036 | $680 | -77.6% |
| Cynthia Pixler | $1,221 | $657 | -46.2% |
| Robert E. Wright | $1,650 | $652 | -60.5% |
| Holly Kearns | $1,689 | $637 | -62.3% |
| Carol Ann Kirschner | $2,792 | $632 | -77.4% |
| Daniel B. Paul | $2,512 | $616 | -75.5% |
| Toll Gate Ayr Farms - J Garrett & JF & Dwight R Hu | $0 | $614 | -- |
| Chuck D. Drake | $0 | $609 | -- |
| Timothy W. Stimeling | $3,155 | $595 | -81.1% |
| Spring Hope Farm, LLC | $2,877 | $583 | -79.7% |
| Perry L. Williams | $5,168 | $557 | -89.2% |
| Bruce W. Graff | $1,970 | $551 | -72% |
| Wayne A. Livingston | $2,535 | $511 | -79.8% |
| Dale Rush | $510 | $510 | 0% |
| Joseph J. Cole | $2,967 | $510 | -82.8% |
| John A. Johnson | $2,475 | $507 | -79.5% |
| Joseph N. Kirby | $977 | $504 | -48.4% |
| Nicholas Rapsack | $2,248 | $482 | -78.6% |
| Gary Schwab | $7,372 | $480 | -93.5% |
| Donna Stickovich | $455 | $460 | 1.1% |
| Derek J. Desmond | $1,694 | $454 | -73.2% |
| Val G. Nicholl | $2,600 | $441 | -83% |
| Rustic Rock Maple Farm | $0 | $425 | -- |
| Michael Molnar | $4,436 | $384 | -91.3% |
| Jonathan Bedillion | $1,947 | $346 | -82.2% |
| Thomas J. Siler | $1,386 | $339 | -75.5% |
| Mark Brigich | $2,047 | $311 | -84.8% |
| Ronald J. Harris | $825 | $308 | -62.7% |
| Evan Midler | $1,524 | $306 | -79.9% |
| Leo Patterson III | $299 | $299 | 0% |
| Hayden A. Heinrich | $1,580 | $253 | -84% |
| James R. Matthews | $1,001 | $207 | -79.3% |
| John E. Liggett | $2,576 | $190 | -92.6% |
| Foundation for California University Pennsylvania | $0 | $184 | -- |
| Christine L. O'Brien | $0 | $184 | -- |
| Georgianna Griffith | $536 | $139 | -74.1% |
| Travis Crouse | $1,026 | $124 | -87.9% |
| Jeffrey Breese | $2,959 | $120 | -95.9% |
| Mark C Harnen | $108 | $108 | 0% |
| Harry Windsheimer & Sons | $43,439 | $84 | -99.8% |
| Jacob Yohe | $242 | $48 | -80.2% |
| Philip E. Froebe | $168 | $27 | -83.9% |
| Beth A. Brownlee | $1,158 | $14 | -98.8% |
| Lewis Owen Kelley Jr. | $200 | $0 | -100% |
| Oak Hill Farm, LLC | $6,160 | $0 | -100% |
| Peter W. Monticello III | $2,348 | $0 | -100% |
| Wayne Duerr | $3,082 | $0 | -100% |
| Redemption Farms, LLC | $4,120 | $0 | -100% |
| Cherry Valley Community Farm, Inc. | $11,400 | $0 | -100% |
| John L. Findling Jr. | $983 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael Sigler | $414 | $0 | -100% |
| Foundation for California Univers | $184 | $0 | -100% |
| Harry Fehl Jr. | $276 | $0 | -100% |
| Laurie J. Higgins | $3,137 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeffrey Dittmer | $6,222 | $0 | -100% |
| Larry E. Bedillion | $46 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert Panichi | $1,248 | $0 | -100% |
| Ralph Nevala | $145 | $0 | -100% |
| Barnyard Petting Zoo and Pony Rid | $11,455 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeff Putnak | $1,378 | $0 | -100% |
| Ray Furda | $188 | $0 | -100% |
| William G. Siemon Jr. | $2,702 | $0 | -100% |
| Frederick L. McConn | $5,021 | $0 | -100% |
| Jay Kinder | $943 | $0 | -100% |
| Roderick G. Williams | $7,882 | $0 | -100% |
| Charles D. Drake | $2,160 | $0 | -100% |
| Christian S. Miller | $27,696 | $0 | -100% |
| Clark L. Oberholtzer | $2,814 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel S. Miller | $24,499 | $0 | -100% |
| HDH Mushrooms, Inc. | $500,000 | $0 | -100% |
| Linda A. Farr | $58 | $0 | -100% |
| Nancy H. Mason | $889 | $0 | -100% |
| Noe Ochoa | $15,262 | $0 | -100% |
| Perez Mushrooms, LLC | $208,338 | $0 | -100% |
| Samuel K. Blank | $17,686 | $0 | -100% |
| Veronica Alvarez DE Avalos | $357,861 | $0 | -100% |
| Charles W. Minch III | $3,149 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas D. McConn | $2,255 | $0 | -100% |
| Toll Gate Ayr Farms - J Garrett | $2,622 | $0 | -100% |
| William A. Riggle | $880 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $3,575,532 | $843,094 | -76.4% |
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
Fredericktown• Borough of Canonsburg• Borough of Marianna• Bulger• Borough of Ellsworth• Borough of Beallsville• Nottingham Township• Borough of California• West Alexander• Borough of Burgettstown• Borough of Houston• McMurray• Borough of Bentleyville• Avella• Borough Of Claysville• Borough Of Coal Center• Borough Of Finleyville• Eighty Four• City Of Monongahela• Borough Of Charleroi
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