Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock
In 2021, 273 farmers in cities within Mower County received a total of $4.1 million in 457 farm subsidies, a 69.6% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $13.4 million in 1,251 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 Mower County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Sheely | $285,169 | $416,584 | 46.1% |
| Smith Family Farms, LLP | $355,521 | $154,316 | -56.6% |
| Patrick M. Stier | $72,254 | $150,529 | 108.3% |
| David Voigt | $451,992 | $142,266 | -68.5% |
| Diamond Farms, Inc. | $148,009 | $131,621 | -11.1% |
| Meadow View Farms | $444,158 | $104,968 | -76.4% |
| Jacob Andrew Haarstad | $204,757 | $75,847 | -63% |
| Brian R. Wolfgram | $77,718 | $74,152 | -4.6% |
| Neal D. Anderson | $171,482 | $63,065 | -63.2% |
| James T. Jacobson | $142,584 | $58,203 | -59.2% |
| Bruce Leslie Schroeder | $38,391 | $56,325 | 46.7% |
| Craig Monnier | $92,516 | $55,064 | -40.5% |
| Walerak Bros | $253,334 | $52,790 | -79.2% |
| Chad N. Felten | $90,442 | $50,598 | -44.1% |
| Gene G. Tapp | $107,303 | $49,090 | -54.3% |
| Diamond D, LLC | $67,379 | $45,809 | -32% |
| James Christian | $55,157 | $44,015 | -20.2% |
| David A. Nelsen | $186,734 | $43,511 | -76.7% |
| Steven Garbisch | $43,415 | $43,415 | 0% |
| Bryce D. Nelson | $144,507 | $42,994 | -70.2% |
| David J. Schwartz | $144,554 | $41,186 | -71.5% |
| Bruce Nelsen | $175,349 | $40,778 | -76.7% |
| Craig A. Nelsen | $175,306 | $40,765 | -76.7% |
| Alan E. Akkerman | $150,675 | $39,438 | -73.8% |
| Rory H. Evans | $36,067 | $35,730 | -0.9% |
| David Reuter | $219,877 | $33,444 | -84.8% |
| Lori S. Reuter | $219,877 | $33,444 | -84.8% |
| Ronald Akkerman | $110,907 | $33,225 | -70% |
| James C. Kellogg | $70,943 | $31,056 | -56.2% |
| Ronald C. Vrieze | $59,479 | $30,687 | -48.4% |
| Sorg Circle S Farms, Inc. | $39,835 | $30,452 | -23.6% |
| Thomas A. Schneider | $58,101 | $29,849 | -48.6% |
| Branden Tapp | $119,940 | $28,317 | -76.4% |
| Richard E. Jones | $117,998 | $28,138 | -76.2% |
| Wendy G. Jones | $117,998 | $28,138 | -76.2% |
| Jon S. Lewison | $58,745 | $27,005 | -54% |
| Patrick E. Nelsen | $105,267 | $26,908 | -74.4% |
| James P. Bissen | $73,212 | $26,862 | -63.3% |
| Morris Klouse | $36,779 | $26,768 | -27.2% |
| Earl Kiefer | $47,743 | $26,646 | -44.2% |
| Evan A. Holst | $94,733 | $26,296 | -72.2% |
| Norman Tapp | $132,753 | $25,730 | -80.6% |
| Alan D. Tapp | $132,725 | $25,722 | -80.6% |
| Daniel L. Tapp | $132,725 | $25,722 | -80.6% |
| Robert J. Hanson | $25,699 | $25,699 | 0% |
| Brian W. Bergene | $210,225 | $25,159 | -88% |
| Leon J. Holst | $104,017 | $24,427 | -76.5% |
| Brian Joseph Meyerhofer | $91,853 | $23,813 | -74.1% |
| Brian Howe | $113,931 | $23,774 | -79.1% |
| Cory A. Ransom | $129,497 | $23,611 | -81.8% |
| Mark J Diekrager | $101,759 | $23,295 | -77.1% |
| Kenneth D. Berg | $23,084 | $23,084 | 0% |
| Wayne Dietrich | $22,576 | $22,576 | 0% |
| Frank Family Farms, LLC | $549,011 | $22,467 | -95.9% |
| Matthew R. Vaupel | $65,263 | $20,955 | -67.9% |
| Richard W. Capelle | $23,666 | $20,035 | -15.3% |
| Bradley Howe | $90,208 | $18,851 | -79.1% |
| Bruce J. Hoffman | $18,441 | $18,441 | 0% |
| Mark A. Schaefer | $122,786 | $18,151 | -85.2% |
| Alan Slowinski | $82,178 | $18,080 | -78% |
| Daniel Kiefer | $63,634 | $18,076 | -71.6% |
| Bonnie Loots | $35,209 | $18,008 | -48.9% |
| Dick J. Degeus Jr. | $18,396 | $17,999 | -2.2% |
| Lee Baldus | $86,726 | $17,873 | -79.4% |
| Ryan Thomas Felten | $38,922 | $17,684 | -54.6% |
| Paul S. Schaefer | $111,335 | $17,207 | -84.5% |
| Marc Thomas Irlbeck | $17,783 | $16,765 | -5.7% |
| Gene A. Kiefer | $35,757 | $15,880 | -55.6% |
| Chris Jax | $47,188 | $15,348 | -67.5% |
| Marvin W. Smith | $15,182 | $15,182 | 0% |
| Clint C. Miller | $56,371 | $15,131 | -73.2% |
| Jim Hanegraaf | $51,326 | $14,973 | -70.8% |
| Gary Kasel | $68,730 | $14,902 | -78.3% |
| Wayne Kiefer | $25,256 | $14,609 | -42.2% |
| Michael L. Bustad | $42,140 | $14,552 | -65.5% |
| David Holst | $67,151 | $14,304 | -78.7% |
| Danny J. Pike | $59,315 | $14,303 | -75.9% |
| Mark Yunker | $51,727 | $14,078 | -72.8% |
| Wilford L Ring Estate | $12,142 | $13,620 | 12.2% |
| Peter Kahl Family Trust | $13,542 | $13,542 | 0% |
| Philip A. Oswald | $41,947 | $13,536 | -67.7% |
| Timothy John Jax | $49,135 | $13,193 | -73.1% |
| Delbert Lecy | $53,972 | $13,140 | -75.7% |
| Carlton Reuter | $26,992 | $12,761 | -52.7% |
| K and K Farms of Racine, LLC | $84,780 | $12,509 | -85.2% |
| Timm B. Ehret | $78,084 | $12,499 | -84% |
| Mark L. Hanson | $60,558 | $12,220 | -79.8% |
| Scott Morgan | $103,265 | $11,575 | -88.8% |
| Adam Charles Meyerhofer | $36,758 | $11,519 | -68.7% |
| Robert F. Capelle | $15,713 | $11,265 | -28.3% |
| Bryan Stemson | $19,620 | $11,123 | -43.3% |
| Marti Kent Oeltjen | $17,592 | $11,056 | -37.2% |
| Bryan A. May | $45,682 | $10,907 | -76.1% |
| David B. Tangren | $36,446 | $10,476 | -71.3% |
| Braden C. Reuter | $85,618 | $10,464 | -87.8% |
| Tom & Harold Verdoorn | $52,371 | $9,922 | -81.1% |
| Kenneth Williams | $41,181 | $9,916 | -75.9% |
| Duane D. Anderson | $33,469 | $9,809 | -70.7% |
| Ryan Gehling | $33,910 | $9,750 | -71.2% |
| Lucas Michael Schaefer | $47,990 | $9,594 | -80% |
| Brian A. Landherr | $9,619 | $9,283 | -3.5% |
| Colten D. Reuter | $85,618 | $9,144 | -89.3% |
| Clyde Boone | $9,128 | $9,128 | 0% |
| Cory A. Boehm | $40,754 | $9,091 | -77.7% |
| Darrel Clark | $26,535 | $9,074 | -65.8% |
| Ted J. Kiefer | $29,840 | $8,956 | -70% |
| Tony R. Kiefer | $29,840 | $8,956 | -70% |
| Curtis R. Lonergan | $48,833 | $8,840 | -81.9% |
| Edward Wilson | $40,764 | $8,813 | -78.4% |
| Nels Lee | $8,787 | $8,787 | 0% |
| Jeremy J. Schieck | $41,831 | $8,325 | -80.1% |
| Blue Top Farms | $52,375 | $8,296 | -84.2% |
| Chad L. Steinkamp | $40,507 | $8,263 | -79.6% |
| Kenneth C. Strum | $8,160 | $8,160 | 0% |
| David W Blazing | $8,103 | $8,103 | 0% |
| Richard A. Gansen | $8,063 | $8,044 | -0.2% |
| Jerome Evans | $8,041 | $8,041 | 0% |
| Joseph B. Sheely | $21,660 | $7,871 | -63.7% |
| Timothy Neuvirth | $12,358 | $7,832 | -36.6% |
| Terry A. Wangen | $18,883 | $7,798 | -58.7% |
| Michael E. Bissen | $35,755 | $7,737 | -78.4% |
| Kent Management Companies | $15,419 | $7,427 | -51.8% |
| James B. Wagner | $0 | $7,320 | -- |
| Jason Irvin | $30,871 | $7,312 | -76.3% |
| Bradley A. Hanson | $19,533 | $7,264 | -62.8% |
| Laura M. Meany | $24,300 | $7,259 | -70.1% |
| Lonergan Brothers | $32,620 | $7,243 | -77.8% |
| Sanford H. Greeley | $4,744 | $7,064 | 48.9% |
| David Kuhlman | $30,386 | $7,063 | -76.8% |
| Thomas Allen Kasel | $39,686 | $6,950 | -82.5% |
| Taylar T. Schwartz | $23,306 | $6,550 | -71.9% |
| Bradley E. Kiefer | $6,216 | $6,346 | 2.1% |
| Judith Marie Schwartz | $6,286 | $6,286 | 0% |
| Eric Jon Lee | $31,035 | $6,216 | -80% |
| Merle D. Klouse | $21,896 | $6,201 | -71.7% |
| Trevor Emanuel | $28,630 | $6,066 | -78.8% |
| Kelly R. Oxley | $27,270 | $6,057 | -77.8% |
| Fasbender Brothers, LLC | $29,130 | $5,820 | -80% |
| Dennis J. Runkle | $5,654 | $5,779 | 2.2% |
| Caleb Howe | $29,755 | $5,623 | -81.1% |
| Roman L. Gossman | $7,143 | $5,539 | -22.5% |
| Charles G Burke Revoc Living Trust | $5,465 | $5,465 | 0% |
| Iva L Burke Revoc Living Trust | $5,465 | $5,465 | 0% |
| Michelle Anderson | $8,557 | $5,414 | -36.7% |
| Doug Johnson | $5,328 | $5,328 | 0% |
| Wyatt John Holst | $14,957 | $5,318 | -64.4% |
| Robert D. Kuhlman | $20,433 | $5,177 | -74.7% |
| Bradley J. Sheely | $19,972 | $5,129 | -74.3% |
| Bridget K. Sheely | $19,972 | $5,129 | -74.3% |
| Roger L. Oelkers | $4,877 | $4,877 | 0% |
| Paul Weis | $13,504 | $4,432 | -67.2% |
| Norbert Holland | $10,518 | $4,424 | -57.9% |
| Prairie View, LLC | $1,093,902 | $4,378 | -99.6% |
| Mark Merten | $21,667 | $4,356 | -79.9% |
| 4K Farms, LLC | $16,956 | $4,330 | -74.5% |
| Timothy J. Mullenbach | $18,351 | $4,213 | -77% |
| Randy Mullenbach | $18,246 | $4,148 | -77.3% |
| Jaynard B Johnson JR | $4,035 | $4,035 | 0% |
| Richard Brown | $14,105 | $3,950 | -72% |
| Duane Schaefer | $3,840 | $3,840 | 0% |
| James Bustad | $30,517 | $3,837 | -87.4% |
| Tyler Allen Thompson | $9,488 | $3,824 | -59.7% |
| Golden Acres | $24,144 | $3,813 | -84.2% |
| Bruce Hanson | $3,437 | $3,797 | 10.5% |
| Mike Meyerhofer | $16,703 | $3,756 | -77.5% |
| Peter Mittelsted | $3,675 | $3,675 | 0% |
| James Risius | $4,378 | $3,545 | -19% |
| Stacy Jech | $3,268 | $3,268 | 0% |
| Robert W. Unverzagt Jr. | $3,035 | $3,035 | 0% |
| William H. Harnack | $17,691 | $3,009 | -83% |
| Linda A. Felten | $12,692 | $2,995 | -76.4% |
| Larry Ehret | $18,657 | $2,961 | -84.1% |
| Herbert C. Merten | $17,050 | $2,917 | -82.9% |
| Ronald L. Christensen | $2,872 | $2,872 | 0% |
| Norman D Korsness | $9,788 | $2,853 | -70.9% |
| Patricia Geerdes | $3,578 | $2,806 | -21.6% |
| Leland Aanonson | $11,314 | $2,732 | -75.9% |
| Gary L. Freerksen | $8,510 | $2,715 | -68.1% |
| Ronald D. Walk | $8,834 | $2,585 | -70.7% |
| Gregory N. Reinartz | $19,051 | $2,564 | -86.5% |
| Donald N. Ulwelling | $5,019 | $2,541 | -49.4% |
| Walsh Farm Testimentary Trust | $2,517 | $2,517 | 0% |
| Paul Skifton | $6,391 | $2,397 | -62.5% |
| Paul A. Ulwelling | $2,484 | $2,395 | -3.6% |
| Herbert Kiefer | $8,349 | $2,372 | -71.6% |
| Tyler Jax | $13,926 | $2,346 | -83.2% |
| Lester Kiefer | $4,550 | $2,327 | -48.9% |
| Bakken Farms, LLC | $9,006 | $2,313 | -74.3% |
| Odean J. Haarstad | $3,196 | $2,300 | -28% |
| Jack J. Klaehn | $8,869 | $2,284 | -74.2% |
| Joseph Vogt | $2,270 | $2,270 | 0% |
| Jay D. Howton | $2,242 | $2,242 | 0% |
| Linda A. Howton | $2,242 | $2,242 | 0% |
| Brock M. Nelson | $10,598 | $2,160 | -79.6% |
| Aaron J. Wagner | $9,957 | $2,066 | -79.3% |
| Joshua T. Jacobson | $4,693 | $2,059 | -56.1% |
| Burton L. Ruhter | $2,090 | $2,024 | -3.2% |
| Thomas S. Kaase | $2,478 | $1,987 | -19.8% |
| Charles Kiefer | $9,799 | $1,980 | -79.8% |
| Melvin S. Yunker | $10,283 | $1,972 | -80.8% |
| Jason Fredrickson | $1,936 | $1,936 | 0% |
| Duane Kuhlman | $8,917 | $1,933 | -78.3% |
| Kevin Brown | $4,820 | $1,771 | -63.3% |
| Bruce E. Barnum | $4,186 | $1,752 | -58.1% |
| Jackie R. Barnum | $4,186 | $1,752 | -58.1% |
| Thomas J. Felten | $0 | $1,568 | -- |
| Nathan R. Oxley | $6,809 | $1,530 | -77.5% |
| Alan R. Mandt | $5,150 | $1,490 | -71.1% |
| Jerry Ransom | $3,943 | $1,482 | -62.4% |
| Maynard Weis | $1,461 | $1,461 | 0% |
| Virginia M. Bissen | $6,936 | $1,454 | -79% |
| Brian J. Kasel | $6,336 | $1,418 | -77.6% |
| Kenneth A. Hofner | $2,807 | $1,306 | -53.5% |
| Christina Swanek | $15,339 | $1,272 | -91.7% |
| Nicholas Weston Doherty | $946 | $1,261 | 33.3% |
| Greg Swenson | $14,396 | $1,247 | -91.3% |
| Joseph M. Gossman | $4,771 | $1,242 | -74% |
| Eva L Schnirring Revoc Living Trust | $1,230 | $1,230 | 0% |
| Nelson Bros | $908 | $1,198 | 31.9% |
| Carl A. Haarstad | $1,195 | $1,154 | -3.4% |
| Allyn Anderson | $1,707 | $1,124 | -34.2% |
| Ronald P. Merten | $1,047 | $1,047 | 0% |
| Jared Curley | $5,925 | $1,000 | -83.1% |
| Leonard E Darnell Revoc Trust | $1,529 | $994 | -35% |
| Kenneth Vrieze | $890 | $890 | 0% |
| Richard J. King | $0 | $878 | -- |
| Lawrence R. Gossman | $4,766 | $845 | -82.3% |
| J R Ressler Farm, LLC | $12,309 | $832 | -93.2% |
| Lyn Meany | $818 | $818 | 0% |
| Katie Lunning | $0 | $797 | -- |
| Laverne Gabriel Revoc Family Trust | $791 | $791 | 0% |
| Dennis Graff | $515 | $771 | 49.7% |
| Brandon Nieman | $2,880 | $757 | -73.7% |
| Donald Zimmerman | $988 | $747 | -24.4% |
| Larry L. Luke | $739 | $739 | 0% |
| Leslie and Shirley Tapp Family Limited Partnership | $717 | $720 | 0.4% |
| Benjamin Peter Viker | $1,558 | $714 | -54.2% |
| Michael and Mary Hustak Joint Revoc Trust | $2,413 | $704 | -70.8% |
| Leonard Babcock | $2,910 | $669 | -77% |
| Terry Schnirring | $2,182 | $654 | -70% |
| Roger Hofner | $2,034 | $590 | -71% |
| John Holst | $576 | $576 | 0% |
| Michael Rossow | $2,818 | $574 | -79.6% |
| Brian N. Reinartz | $567 | $567 | 0% |
| Sharon L. Garbisch | $4,972 | $557 | -88.8% |
| Dale K. Anderson | $547 | $547 | 0% |
| Mitchell S. Oswald | $2,189 | $481 | -78% |
| Brandon L. Vogt | $1,597 | $477 | -70.1% |
| Ross E. Turner | $3,436 | $474 | -86.2% |
| Geoffrey Stroup | $452 | $452 | 0% |
| Larry E. Yunker | $2,583 | $443 | -82.8% |
| Leona R. Anderson | $219 | $442 | 101.8% |
| Steven R. Johnson | $1,449 | $417 | -71.2% |
| Donald a Igou Irrevoc Family Trust | $733 | $367 | -49.9% |
| Leroy Johnson | $766 | $361 | -52.9% |
| Truman C. Olson | $360 | $360 | 0% |
| Terry F. Leininger | $1,552 | $330 | -78.7% |
| Kevin D. Klouse | $993 | $328 | -67% |
| Haven Hutterian Brethren, Inc. | $315 | $315 | 0% |
| Raymond Dietrich | $1,274 | $247 | -80.6% |
| Jeff Reinke | $572 | $199 | -65.2% |
| Arvin Ringen | $174 | $174 | 0% |
| Richard A. Stroup | $155 | $155 | 0% |
| Mary Luke | $317 | $153 | -51.7% |
| Terry Pries | $144 | $144 | 0% |
| Wendy Landherr | $144 | $144 | 0% |
| Kacie A. Sayles | $382 | $94 | -75.4% |
| Diane Mittelsted | $220 | $88 | -60% |
| Robert Irvin | $86 | $86 | 0% |
| Kim J. Kilgore | $153 | $67 | -56.2% |
| Andrea S. Severtson | $120 | $66 | -45% |
| Mathew S. Walk | $65 | $65 | 0% |
| Brian T. Miller | $60 | $53 | -11.7% |
| Arletta Sweazey | $2,900 | $0 | -100% |
| Chelsea Faulhaber | $1,380 | $0 | -100% |
| Doris Kiser Revocable Trust | $1,003 | $0 | -100% |
| Kara Sjol-Northway | $4,074 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark Mandler | $799 | $0 | -100% |
| Maynard C. Akkerman | $6,163 | $0 | -100% |
| Darlene Pinke | $251 | $0 | -100% |
| Edwin H. Frank | $417 | $0 | -100% |
| Jerome H. Lee | $39 | $0 | -100% |
| Theodore A. Frank | $371 | $0 | -100% |
| Vicki L. Rossow | $312 | $0 | -100% |
| Dennis D. Nelson | $565 | $0 | -100% |
| Brock Alden Erickson | $577 | $0 | -100% |
| Harlen H. Renken | $8,588 | $0 | -100% |
| Marijane W Irlbeck Irrevoc Trust | $18,956 | $0 | -100% |
| Edward Koch | $541 | $0 | -100% |
| John M Bhend | $25 | $0 | -100% |
| MJM Agent Services, LLC | $5,677 | $0 | -100% |
| Steve Felten | $1,210 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas P Hanegraaf JR | $9,575 | $0 | -100% |
| James L. Swenson | $3,069 | $0 | -100% |
| Schaefer Stateline Swine, LLC | $730,701 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $13,360,817 | $4,055,185 | -69.6% |
Alerts Sign-up