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In 2021, 91 farmers in cities within Monroe County received a total of $447,914 in 115 farm subsidies, a 70.6% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $1.5 million in 228 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 Monroe County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island Skipper Fishing, Inc. | $0 | $22,471 | -- |
| Rob Strahm | $17,112 | $21,212 | 24% |
| White Water Seafood, Corp. | $0 | $17,598 | -- |
| Mojito Fishing and Travel, LLC | $0 | $15,672 | -- |
| Warren Ubben | $50,390 | $15,467 | -69.3% |
| John I. Andrix | $9,526 | $14,885 | 56.3% |
| MV Thunderbird, Inc. | $0 | $14,692 | -- |
| Omar Ruiz | $0 | $14,109 | -- |
| MV Erick Y Lizy, Inc. | $0 | $13,536 | -- |
| Thomas J. Yarbough | $0 | $13,122 | -- |
| Robert E Defield | $12,513 | $12,513 | 0% |
| Judith A. Etzler | $12,181 | $12,181 | 0% |
| Alberto Martinez | $0 | $11,300 | -- |
| Joan J Pfeffer Trust | $10,706 | $10,706 | 0% |
| Ernest M. Piton Jr. | $0 | $10,670 | -- |
| Michael Pierce | $0 | $9,972 | -- |
| Jema, LLC | $4,315 | $9,954 | 130.7% |
| Dan Yeider | $0 | $9,693 | -- |
| Rigoberto Hernandez Jr. | $0 | $9,350 | -- |
| James Jason Johnson | $0 | $8,775 | -- |
| FV Trinity, Inc. | $0 | $7,992 | -- |
| Ruben Rodriguez | $0 | $7,390 | -- |
| Omar Sardina | $0 | $7,275 | -- |
| Eric Gartenmayer | $0 | $7,186 | -- |
| FV Yellowfin, Corp. | $0 | $7,009 | -- |
| Fernando Herrera Calderin | $0 | $7,006 | -- |
| Herika's Nursery, Inc. | $0 | $6,813 | -- |
| Sea Critters, Inc. | $0 | $5,982 | -- |
| Jesus Cabrera | $0 | $5,901 | -- |
| Mario A. Ruiz | $0 | $5,653 | -- |
| Jema 2 | $21,671 | $5,566 | -74.3% |
| Key West Number One Fishing, Inc. | $0 | $5,488 | -- |
| Yamil Alpizar | $0 | $5,368 | -- |
| Jose Gonzalez | $0 | $5,007 | -- |
| Julio Lopez | $0 | $4,771 | -- |
| Harper Family Trust | $9,542 | $4,749 | -50.2% |
| A-Z Recreation Game Farms, LLP | $7,230 | $4,449 | -38.5% |
| William Gibson | $0 | $4,349 | -- |
| Brent Mattheessen | $108 | $4,342 | 3,920.4% |
| Tamara L. Hiller | $0 | $4,261 | -- |
| Habanero Fisherman, Inc. | $0 | $4,188 | -- |
| KB Fish & More | $0 | $3,724 | -- |
| Lorenzo Naseiro | $0 | $3,570 | -- |
| Douglas A. Kirby Jr. | $0 | $3,233 | -- |
| Timothy M. Shafer | $51 | $2,922 | 5,629.4% |
| Carolyn J. Maki | $10,919 | $2,815 | -74.2% |
| David Holwadel | $2,638 | $2,638 | 0% |
| Miguel A. Chavez | $0 | $2,346 | -- |
| Judith a Cook Revocable Living Trust | $0 | $2,242 | -- |
| Windy Heights Farm, LLC | $6,180 | $2,213 | -64.2% |
| Cynthia D. Kulp | $4,669 | $2,179 | -53.3% |
| Steven A. Rodger | $1,994 | $1,994 | 0% |
| Miguel Cabrera | $0 | $1,956 | -- |
| William Edward Bullard | $0 | $1,872 | -- |
| Kathryn M. Wente | $0 | $1,799 | -- |
| Kenneth C. Wente II | $0 | $1,799 | -- |
| Jesus Perez | $0 | $1,615 | -- |
| Edward F. Hoff Jr. | $1,594 | $1,594 | 0% |
| Nancy J. Miller | $7,591 | $1,538 | -79.7% |
| Marathon Crab & Lobster, LLC | $0 | $1,354 | -- |
| Oceanscout, Inc. | $0 | $1,249 | -- |
| Charles W. Blackwell | $2,546 | $1,235 | -51.5% |
| John R. Blackwell | $2,501 | $1,190 | -52.4% |
| Worsley Farming Company | $1,013 | $1,013 | 0% |
| Robert Holvorson | $3,832 | $974 | -74.6% |
| Steven Stotts | $0 | $788 | -- |
| Lee Starling | $0 | $786 | -- |
| Thomas J. Stone Trust | $2,903 | $781 | -73.1% |
| Barbara a Winkler Exemption Trust | $3,365 | $745 | -77.9% |
| Constance Flanagan | $657 | $694 | 5.6% |
| Barbara G. Wright | $672 | $672 | 0% |
| Frances D. Shaw | $600 | $600 | 0% |
| Terrance Spencer | $0 | $600 | -- |
| Kevin Andrew Yeider | $0 | $600 | -- |
| Jessica Lynn Emery | $0 | $573 | -- |
| Peggy Renner | $1,411 | $504 | -64.3% |
| Wyman Elliot | $2,457 | $423 | -82.8% |
| Thomas L. Morgan | $395 | $395 | 0% |
| Patrick J Egan Revocable Trust | $0 | $264 | -- |
| Brent R. Hopkins | $0 | $263 | -- |
| David Gottron | $746 | $239 | -68% |
| Artlisia Bibbs | $229 | $229 | 0% |
| Robert A. Bradley | $584 | $185 | -68.3% |
| Marsha Cramer | $252 | $158 | -37.3% |
| Kathleen Merfeld | $199 | $154 | -22.6% |
| Will King | $1,115 | $134 | -88% |
| Jerry L. Stahl | $113 | $113 | 0% |
| Carol Hartfiel | $133 | $103 | -22.6% |
| Judith K Langowski Living Trust | $97 | $97 | 0% |
| Heidi Sequeira | $228 | $82 | -64% |
| Carol J Vandergriff Bypass Trust Dated 09-18-2009 | $70 | $45 | -35.7% |
| Adrian Morales | $9,413 | $0 | -100% |
| Chelsey Reid | $734 | $0 | -100% |
| Emilio Perdomo | $5,441 | $0 | -100% |
| Holroyd Enterprises, Inc. | $5,444 | $0 | -100% |
| Joseph Paul Golden | $2,698 | $0 | -100% |
| Mario Becker | $7,268 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael Becker | $8,277 | $0 | -100% |
| Mr. Mitchell S. Gale | $9,328 | $0 | -100% |
| Rex H. Hopkins II | $238 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert Michael Christianson | $4,579 | $0 | -100% |
| Karen Buganski | $10,531 | $0 | -100% |
| C & B FLA Limited Corporation, LLC | $7,808 | $0 | -100% |
| Centerfold Commercial Fishing, LLC | $5,113 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel Szopinski | $652 | $0 | -100% |
| Eat Florida Seafood, Inc. | $4,241 | $0 | -100% |
| Edward Burke | $1,980 | $0 | -100% |
| Key Largo Crawfish, Inc. | $15,198 | $0 | -100% |
| Mike Rentz | $4,304 | $0 | -100% |
| Refvik Fisheries, LLC | $34,610 | $0 | -100% |
| Sturon, Inc. | $198,188 | $0 | -100% |
| Sunsational Tropicals, Inc. | $195,333 | $0 | -100% |
| Take It or Leave It, Inc. | $13,127 | $0 | -100% |
| Victor M. Garcia | $2,604 | $0 | -100% |
| Walter Rentz | $11,763 | $0 | -100% |
| William Clark Plunkett | $247 | $0 | -100% |
| Aileen, LLC | $12,114 | $0 | -100% |
| Angel Ramos | $1,298 | $0 | -100% |
| Big Crawl Commerical Fishing | $20,628 | $0 | -100% |
| Blanca Rosa IV, LLC | $19,005 | $0 | -100% |
| Capt. Carlos, LLC | $9,024 | $0 | -100% |
| David Holfinger | $79 | $0 | -100% |
| Delbert P. Brixey | $200 | $0 | -100% |
| Eduardo Sariol | $5,596 | $0 | -100% |
| Elizabeth Blanco | $11,085 | $0 | -100% |
| Fishing Machine, Inc. | $4,740 | $0 | -100% |
| Freddi Herrera | $3,888 | $0 | -100% |
| Fryde Conch, LLC | $25,251 | $0 | -100% |
| Heather Rodger | $2,042 | $0 | -100% |
| Jake Barta | $791 | $0 | -100% |
| Jason R. Wells | $2,811 | $0 | -100% |
| Jose O. Morales | $8,065 | $0 | -100% |
| Juan Blanco Sr. | $8,562 | $0 | -100% |
| Judith a Cook Revocable Living Trustee | $4,413 | $0 | -100% |
| Key West Sub Sea, LLC | $1,898 | $0 | -100% |
| Keys Fresh, LLC | $3,374 | $0 | -100% |
| Knee Deep Fishing Charters, LLC | $397 | $0 | -100% |
| Lil J Fisheries, LLC | $5,174 | $0 | -100% |
| Manuel Roldan Caridad | $2,050 | $0 | -100% |
| Marta Hernandez | $7,495 | $0 | -100% |
| Nelson Hills | $12,042 | $0 | -100% |
| Nicklaus Fisheries, Inc. | $11,902 | $0 | -100% |
| Osniel Cabrera Perez | $11,245 | $0 | -100% |
| Peter M. Bacle | $43,060 | $0 | -100% |
| Ricardo Diaz | $82,847 | $0 | -100% |
| Roberto Rojas | $2,180 | $0 | -100% |
| Santiago Arencibia, LLC | $15,435 | $0 | -100% |
| Simi Sponge Company, Inc. | $12,252 | $0 | -100% |
| Spear One Fishing, LLC | $247 | $0 | -100% |
| William Arnold Jr. | $5,565 | $0 | -100% |
| Withe Shark, Inc. | $12,906 | $0 | -100% |
| Zane J. Osborn | $8,474 | $0 | -100% |
| Bruce Schofield | $18,052 | $0 | -100% |
| Dagoberto Perez | $4,662 | $0 | -100% |
| Diego Luciano Cordova | $4,521 | $0 | -100% |
| Donald Halladay | $6,680 | $0 | -100% |
| E & E Fisheries, Inc. | $17,770 | $0 | -100% |
| E S Prieto, Corp. | $4,819 | $0 | -100% |
| Edward Worthington Jr. | $9,060 | $0 | -100% |
| Enrique Herrera | $6,246 | $0 | -100% |
| Ethan Wallace | $292 | $0 | -100% |
| Fernando Diaz | $8,766 | $0 | -100% |
| FLO Rider, Corp. | $5,403 | $0 | -100% |
| Gaby Fishing, Corp. | $6,392 | $0 | -100% |
| Gathiel Baker | $76 | $0 | -100% |
| Hewlett Enterprises | $15,454 | $0 | -100% |
| Ileana Y. Lili | $28,206 | $0 | -100% |
| Irwin Incorporated | $15,186 | $0 | -100% |
| Isael Ballejos | $9,154 | $0 | -100% |
| J&D Fishing, Inc. | $5,846 | $0 | -100% |
| James M. Platt | $327 | $0 | -100% |
| JB Fisheries, Inc. | $4,812 | $0 | -100% |
| JCR Fisheries, LLC | $6,261 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeffery Kevin Floyd | $9,250 | $0 | -100% |
| John Jeffery Cramer | $14,584 | $0 | -100% |
| Jordi Fishing, Corp. | $2,325 | $0 | -100% |
| Kid J Fisheries, Inc. | $8,293 | $0 | -100% |
| Kight Fisheries, Inc. | $3,641 | $0 | -100% |
| Lady Josephine, Inc. | $10,794 | $0 | -100% |
| Little T Paan, Inc. | $7,285 | $0 | -100% |
| Lucas Ponzoa | $1,864 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark Butler | $7,749 | $0 | -100% |
| Miss Christina, Inc. | $14,488 | $0 | -100% |
| Nauti Conch Fishing, LLC | $2,485 | $0 | -100% |
| Oscar Araque | $5,037 | $0 | -100% |
| Paid by the LB, LLC | $11,594 | $0 | -100% |
| Piece of the Pie, LLC | $10,518 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard M. Curry | $1,970 | $0 | -100% |
| S & M Fishing, Inc. | $6,416 | $0 | -100% |
| Scott M. Bruno | $2,233 | $0 | -100% |
| Sport Model | $3,367 | $0 | -100% |
| Thats Right Fisheries, LLC | $5,360 | $0 | -100% |
| Cuban Lobster Boys | $2,163 | $0 | -100% |
| Albert Pflueger | $1,485 | $0 | -100% |
| Claudia M. Clark | $4,990 | $0 | -100% |
| Conrad Davila | $4,236 | $0 | -100% |
| Lyle Lenart | $1,384 | $0 | -100% |
| Matthew Michael Dettmann | $6,439 | $0 | -100% |
| Miguel Lechuga | $7,627 | $0 | -100% |
| Mr. Scott Vaeth | $20,701 | $0 | -100% |
| Steven Jay Cramer | $12,288 | $0 | -100% |
| Vincent Biondoletti | $2,278 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $1,525,131 | $447,914 | -70.6% |
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