Farms in Hancock County received $813,361 in taxpayer-funded subsidies in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Of the 47 subsidies provided, the largest was for Allen’s Blueberry Freezer, Inc., which received $566,759 for the claim of “Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act”.
The smallest subsidy provided to a Hancock County farmer was $17 to Meuer Farm, LLC.
There were 218 fewer subsidies than the year before, and the total value of the subsidies fell by $3,516,451.
Kimberly Amadeo of The Balance said farmer subsidies “help high-income corporations, not poor rural farmers. Most of the money goes toward large agribusinesses.”
USDA data analyzed by the Cato Institute found that “farmers (on net) have derived almost 40% of their income directly from the U.S. government” in recent years.
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.
Subsidies Received by Hancock County Code Farmers in 2021
| Farmer | $ Received | Reason for Subsidy | Total Received in Subsidies by Farmer ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen’s Blueberry Freezer, Inc. | $566,759 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $566,759 |
| TJ Timber Products, LLC | $50,875 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Rozina E. Astbury | $50,875 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Galen Plummer | $14,425 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $14,425 |
| Michael Garrity | $13,542 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $13,542 |
| Keaveny Tyler | $12,450 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $12,450 |
| 2 Bar Lazy a, LLC | $10,424 | Conservation Reserve Program Payment – Annual Rental | $13,554 |
| Richard Lemoine | $7,899 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $7,899 |
| Norman K. Burns | $7,476 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $7,476 |
| Matthew Joyce | $6,401 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $6,401 |
| Blue Hill Farm, LLC | $6,325 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $6,325 |
| Lesley Ranquist | $5,727 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $11,453 |
| Lesley Ranquist | $5,727 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $11,453 |
| Reese William Jones | $5,543 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $5,543 |
| Daron Clifford | $5,202 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $5,202 |
| Connie D Blaney – Connie D Blaney Trust 11-4-21 | $4,752 | Conservation Reserve Program Payment – Annual Rental | $10,360 |
| Connie D Blaney – Connie D Blaney Trust 11-4-21 | $4,752 | Conservation Reserve Program Payment – Annual Rental | $10,360 |
| Travis Atwood | $4,473 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $4,473 |
| Cindy Dickens | $3,560 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $3,560 |
| Dover Creek Farm, LLC | $3,410 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $3,410 |
| Colin M. Piper | $2,156 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $2,156 |
| Mildred E Miller IRR Trust | $2,038 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $4,328 |
| TJ Timber Products, LLC | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Rozina E. Astbury | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| 2 Bar Lazy a, LLC | $1,978 | Conservation Reserve Program Payment – Annual Rental | $13,554 |
| Mildred E Miller IRR Trust | $1,892 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $4,328 |
| Troy Bickford | $1,268 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $1,268 |
| Debson, LLC | $1,056 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $1,705 |
| Meuer Farm, LLC | $1,027 | Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program – Plus 3 Assistance Program | $1,484 |
| Owen R. Moses | $818 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $818 |
| 2 Bar Lazy a, LLC | $784 | Conservation Reserve Program Payment – Annual Rental | $13,554 |
| Jacob Mitchell | $731 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $731 |
| Edward P Kolisch | $675 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $675 |
| Debson, LLC | $649 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $1,705 |
| James Hanscom | $603 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $603 |
| Cassidy Hanscom | $592 | Seafood Trade Relief Program | $592 |
| Woodberry Enterprises | $419 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $419 |
| Mildred E Miller IRR Trust | $398 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $4,328 |
| 2 Bar Lazy a, LLC | $368 | Conservation Reserve Program Payment – Annual Rental | $13,554 |
| Connie D Blaney – Connie D Blaney Trust 11-4-21 | $267 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $10,360 |
| Connie D Blaney – Connie D Blaney Trust 11-4-21 | $267 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $10,360 |
| Meuer Farm, LLC | $184 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $1,484 |
| Meuer Farm, LLC | $180 | Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program – Plus 3 Assistance Program | $1,484 |
| Connie D Blaney – Connie D Blaney Trust 11-4-21 | $161 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $10,360 |
| Connie D Blaney – Connie D Blaney Trust 11-4-21 | $161 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $10,360 |
| Meuer Farm, LLC | $77 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $1,484 |
| Meuer Farm, LLC | $17 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $1,484 |
