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In 2021, 25 farmers in cities within Newport County received a total of $601,064 in 32 farm subsidies, a 33.1% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $899,022 in 69 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palombo Fishing, Corp. | $0 | $245,448 | -- |
| Portsmouth Nursery, Inc. | $0 | $86,352 | -- |
| Moniz's Dairy Farms | $124,989 | $70,387 | -43.7% |
| Escobar Farm, LLC | $65,177 | $58,963 | -9.5% |
| Georgianna J. Moniz | $56,389 | $31,687 | -43.8% |
| Ronald G. Potter | $67,067 | $18,773 | -72% |
| CJS Pondview Farm, LLC | $0 | $15,071 | -- |
| Arthur Manchester | $28,940 | $13,671 | -52.8% |
| Michael J. Medeiros | $0 | $10,559 | -- |
| Greenvale Vineyards, Ltd. | $0 | $10,540 | -- |
| Patrick E. Keyes | $9,181 | $9,181 | 0% |
| Shawn M. Westhoven | $8,003 | $8,003 | 0% |
| Clark's Christmas Tree Farm, Inc. | $0 | $3,770 | -- |
| Movement Ground Farm | $0 | $3,586 | -- |
| Jean Helger Bento | $0 | $3,237 | -- |
| Middle Acres Cranberry | $2,758 | $3,203 | 16.1% |
| Little Lynx, LLC | $4,333 | $3,092 | -28.6% |
| Golden Nugget Oysters, LLC | $0 | $1,367 | -- |
| The Martha S Neale Trust | $2,967 | $1,291 | -56.5% |
| Joseph F. Dutra | $61 | $1,268 | 1,978.7% |
| Heidi Small | $0 | $609 | -- |
| Ferolbink Farms, Inc. | $66,599 | $573 | -99.1% |
| Frances A. Goode | $684 | $278 | -59.4% |
| Mintwater Brook Farm, LLC | $0 | $100 | -- |
| Emily Copeland | $55 | $55 | 0% |
| Antonio Pinheiro | $3,636 | $0 | -100% |
| George E. Neale | $1,773 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark Goerner | $11,550 | $0 | -100% |
| Martha S. Neale | $4,499 | $0 | -100% |
| Ralph Jagschitz | $4,757 | $0 | -100% |
| Seakist Aquaculture, LLC | $6,990 | $0 | -100% |
| Spencer Fish and Lobster | $59,040 | $0 | -100% |
| Stephen M. Anderson | $2,029 | $0 | -100% |
| Ace Lobster Company, Inc. | $14,236 | $0 | -100% |
| Eric Roggero | $4,260 | $0 | -100% |
| J and M Agriculture Garman Farm | $5,876 | $0 | -100% |
| Ocean Harvest, Inc. | $18,721 | $0 | -100% |
| Sutton Enterprises | $29,261 | $0 | -100% |
| Alan W. Wheeler | $216 | $0 | -100% |
| Alexandra Bonome | $1,838 | $0 | -100% |
| Cotta Farm, LLC | $30,448 | $0 | -100% |
| Decastro Farms, Inc. | $101,078 | $0 | -100% |
| Mello's Farm & Flower Center | $62,898 | $0 | -100% |
| Shirley Ann, Inc. | $10,615 | $0 | -100% |
| Andorra, Inc. | $844 | $0 | -100% |
| David Iglesias | $23,330 | $0 | -100% |
| Farm Coast Brewery, LLC | $4,565 | $0 | -100% |
| Finast Kind, Inc. | $10,123 | $0 | -100% |
| First Light Fisheries, Inc. | $7,783 | $0 | -100% |
| Little State Flower Company | $19,060 | $0 | -100% |
| Roots Farm | $19,677 | $0 | -100% |
| Russell Helger | $2,716 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $899,022 | $601,064 | -33.1% |
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