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In 2021, 32 farmers in cities within Windham County received a total of $897,530 in 63 farm subsidies, a 71.1% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $3.1 million in 123 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fairvue Farms, LLC | $1,168,672 | $154,411 | -86.8% |
| Fort Hill Farms, LLC | $200,275 | $135,032 | -32.6% |
| Valleyside Farm, LLC | $182,093 | $132,057 | -27.5% |
| Fairholm Farm, Inc. | $320,862 | $129,055 | -59.8% |
| Sherman Farms, LLC | $159,476 | $109,834 | -31.1% |
| ELM Farm, LLC | $107,421 | $87,117 | -18.9% |
| Kenneth M & Suzanne R Buell Rock Maple Farm | $41,485 | $35,630 | -14.1% |
| Nancy Macglaflin | $18,354 | $25,599 | 39.5% |
| Buttercup Dairy Megan Catherine Johnson | $0 | $19,837 | -- |
| Molodich Farms, Inc. | $23,438 | $12,799 | -45.4% |
| Bass Farm | $12,429 | $9,500 | -23.6% |
| Alan E. Sherman | $0 | $9,470 | -- |
| Tyler Farm, LLC | $19,646 | $7,718 | -60.7% |
| Pinecroft Farms, LLC | $10,873 | $4,656 | -57.2% |
| C & G Farm, LLC | $8,627 | $4,500 | -47.8% |
| Baldwin Brook Farm, LLC | $0 | $3,404 | -- |
| Hillyland Farm Dairy, LLC | $5,292 | $2,848 | -46.2% |
| B-Z-B Farm, LLC | $15,785 | $2,705 | -82.9% |
| Nathan Chiles | $1,792 | $1,792 | 0% |
| John White | $38,679 | $1,559 | -96% |
| Coombs Farm, LLC | $13,191 | $1,409 | -89.3% |
| Randolph Blackmer Jr. | $12,958 | $1,324 | -89.8% |
| Norman Hill Farm | $6,347 | $1,260 | -80.1% |
| Margaret Salvas Spruce Hill S. Farms | $4,369 | $1,219 | -72.1% |
| Joan S. Veit | $129 | $1,211 | 838.8% |
| Westview Farm, LLC | $3,575 | $360 | -89.9% |
| Patsy Johnson | $1,122 | $352 | -68.6% |
| Blueberry Hill Organic Farm, LLC | $3,071 | $250 | -91.9% |
| Echo Farm, LLC | $1,515 | $250 | -83.5% |
| Karen E. Rowley | $2,124 | $205 | -90.3% |
| Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm, LLC | $25,938 | $103 | -99.6% |
| Sue C. Holmes | $120 | $64 | -46.7% |
| Canterbury Horticulture, LLC | $176,308 | $0 | -100% |
| Hart's Greenhouse & Florist, LLC | $288,949 | $0 | -100% |
| Russo's Roots, LLC | $5,365 | $0 | -100% |
| Tyler Brothers | $2,755 | $0 | -100% |
| Buell's Orchard | $81,580 | $0 | -100% |
| Betsy Molodich | $7,291 | $0 | -100% |
| Sylvia Wielk | $221 | $0 | -100% |
| New Boston Beef, LLC | $5,546 | $0 | -100% |
| Coatney Hill Farm, LLC | $16,203 | $0 | -100% |
| Hibbard Hill Farm | $986 | $0 | -100% |
| Ox-Bow Acres | $880 | $0 | -100% |
| Paul C Larson Sprucedale Gardens Nursery & Greenhouse | $28,851 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard P. Norman | $2,642 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard Vinal | $21,031 | $0 | -100% |
| The Tiny Acre at Big Oak Farm, LLC | $8,372 | $0 | -100% |
| Woodstock Orchards, LLC | $50,366 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $3,107,004 | $897,530 | -71.1% |
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