Farms throughout cities in Volusia County received $5.7 million less in subsidies in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to the year before.
In 2021, 186 farmers in cities within Volusia County received a total of $1.8 million in 260 farm subsidies, a 76% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $7.5 million in 584 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 Volusia County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luella R. Bell | $917,513 | $473,807 | -48.4% |
| Horace Bell | $764,595 | $394,839 | -48.4% |
| Sula Sod, LLC | $0 | $142,291 | — |
| Mary Judith Ticknor | $71,032 | $65,691 | -7.5% |
| 4C Sod Farm, Inc. | $0 | $53,799 | — |
| Thomas Powell | $0 | $52,875 | — |
| Faith Construction of Central Florida, LLC | $0 | $48,534 | — |
| Rodney Joseph Ticknor | $53,497 | $47,118 | -11.9% |
| David Swank | $35,563 | $39,000 | 9.7% |
| Eric G. Brenden | $36,767 | $36,767 | 0% |
| Richard S Moore Living Trust – Richard S Moore | $0 | $18,264 | — |
| Conaway Livestock, LLC | $224,130 | $17,531 | -92.2% |
| Dianne Y Moore Living Trust – Dianne Y Moore | $0 | $16,656 | — |
| H & H Greens, LLC | $77,849 | $15,326 | -80.3% |
| John Baker | $12,222 | $12,960 | 6% |
| Peter D. Hofelich | $12,403 | $12,403 | 0% |
| Robert F. Greenlund | $39,349 | $11,869 | -69.8% |
| John R Langford Family Limited Partnership | $10,295 | $11,433 | 11.1% |
| Ross J. Kasparek | $24,621 | $11,334 | -54% |
| Lollars Creek FM, Inc. | $15,743 | $11,213 | -28.8% |
| Vo-Lasalle Farms, Inc. | $31,290 | $10,267 | -67.2% |
| George & Sally Calverley Trust | $10,793 | $9,918 | -8.1% |
| Ruth – Ruth Ann Johnson Trust Johnson | $14,520 | $9,686 | -33.3% |
| Oak Ridge Farms of Central Florida, Inc. | $12,575 | $8,487 | -32.5% |
| Doug Koenig | $6,389 | $8,123 | 27.1% |
| Deborah J. Freeland | $4,384 | $8,104 | 84.9% |
| Richard L Grantham IRV Trust | $7,908 | $7,908 | 0% |
| Lake Disston Lands, LLC | $31,031 | $7,250 | -76.6% |
| Artson, LLC | $6,254 | $6,254 | 0% |
| Vickie K Larrabee -Vickie K Larrabee Rev Trustee | $6,230 | $6,230 | 0% |
| Rick A. Baldwin Sr. | $11,838 | $5,546 | -53.2% |
| Denny Fjerestad | $5,199 | $5,542 | 6.6% |
| Delores C. Milke | $0 | $5,315 | — |
| Randy Ridgely | $5,154 | $5,004 | -2.9% |
| James A. Hazelwood | $6,676 | $4,976 | -25.5% |
| Evans Farms, LLC | $50,211 | $4,951 | -90.1% |
| Marie A. Steinhardt | $3,140 | $4,678 | 49% |
| Hunter Welch | $1,408 | $4,607 | 227.2% |
| James W. Rodgers | $4,405 | $4,405 | 0% |
| O. W. Cowart | $16,027 | $3,944 | -75.4% |
| Samuel Daugharty | $17,428 | $3,920 | -77.5% |
| Mill Pond Greens, Inc. | $46,881 | $3,797 | -91.9% |
| Jack E. Lawson | $3,975 | $3,732 | -6.1% |
| Gary L. Littrell | $3,569 | $3,569 | 0% |
| Tom Berglund | $12,548 | $3,455 | -72.5% |
| Thomas R. Piper | $3,410 | $3,410 | 0% |
| Lawanda McCorkle | $767 | $3,328 | 333.9% |
| Triangle S., LLC | $34,826 | $3,024 | -91.3% |
| Bill Benedict | $10,535 | $2,995 | -71.6% |
| Amy Norris Colon | $3,009 | $2,989 | -0.7% |
| LK Cattle, LLC | $13,349 | $2,924 | -78.1% |
| Judith D Jaqua Living Trustee | $2,310 | $2,896 | 25.4% |
| Teresa Daugherty | $4,255 | $2,757 | -35.2% |
| Warren D. Mills | $13,241 | $2,633 | -80.1% |
| Alwyn Dean Wilson | $3,995 | $2,627 | -34.2% |
| Karl W Stalnaker Trust | $3,201 | $2,586 | -19.2% |
| Cory Carbajal | $12,133 | $2,586 | -78.7% |
| Kortum Acres, Inc. | $1,272 | $2,557 | 101% |
| Joseph T Ewing – Joseph T Ewing Family Trust | $0 | $2,552 | — |
| Robert Berge | $2,534 | $2,534 | 0% |
| G & N Farms, Inc. | $8,547 | $2,533 | -70.4% |
| William J. Smith Jr. | $2,327 | $2,327 | 0% |
| John C Hynes Revocable Trust | $2,325 | $2,325 | 0% |
| Cowan Land Company | $5,753 | $2,298 | -60.1% |
| Silas W. Campbell | $13,087 | $2,284 | -82.5% |
| Shade A. Calhoun | $2,441 | $2,248 | -7.9% |
| Mary Chris Kimbrow | $4,799 | $2,239 | -53.3% |
| William C. Barrie | $4,397 | $2,197 | -50% |
| Randy E. Minger | $9,772 | $2,001 | -79.5% |
| Troy Rentz | $6,239 | $1,983 | -68.2% |
| Marsha A. Micheli | $4,230 | $1,961 | -53.6% |
| BSW Farms, Inc. | $7,348 | $1,946 | -73.5% |
| Milton McMillon | $10,025 | $1,933 | -80.7% |
| Laurel Ridge Farms, Corp. | $6,319 | $1,871 | -70.4% |
| Michael Stanley Jones | $520 | $1,848 | 255.4% |
| Boehmler Estate Trust, LLC | $1,821 | $1,821 | 0% |
| William M. Cox | $3,346 | $1,791 | -46.5% |
| Terry L. Peter | $1,512 | $1,762 | 16.5% |
| Francisco Carbajal | $4,455 | $1,683 | -62.2% |
| Stacy Family Trust | $3,218 | $1,645 | -48.9% |
| Christie King | $0 | $1,583 | — |
| Constance Johnson | $7,123 | $1,375 | -80.7% |
| Agreement of Harland L Fosness Irrevocable Trust | $0 | $1,370 | — |
| Karen Keller | $1,690 | $1,366 | -19.2% |
| Darlene Sinex | $1,228 | $1,347 | 9.7% |
| Bathtap, LLC | $1,588 | $1,326 | -16.5% |
| Katherine A. Moldenhauer | $3,354 | $1,261 | -62.4% |
| Susan Elizabeth Sharp | $3,000 | $1,233 | -58.9% |
| West Wind Farms LC | $1,233 | $1,233 | 0% |
| Jennigirl, LLC | $2,112 | $1,228 | -41.9% |
| Ellen Lometti | $3,750 | $1,189 | -68.3% |
| Sharon Busch | $0 | $1,152 | — |
| Allan Campbell Oglesby | $3,172 | $1,129 | -64.4% |
| Chad Knight | $0 | $1,105 | — |
| William Dollahite | $3,770 | $1,098 | -70.9% |
| Dixie Lee Means | $3,416 | $1,075 | -68.5% |
| Donald H Redfern Family Trust | $1,103 | $1,054 | -4.4% |
| Billy N. Greer | $4,322 | $1,031 | -76.1% |
| Fred Family Farm Land, LLC | $2,205 | $1,024 | -53.6% |
| Thola, Inc. | $1,012 | $1,012 | 0% |
| Steven L. Larrabee | $2,420 | $999 | -58.7% |
| Legacy Farms & Ornamentals, LLC | $21,512 | $989 | -95.4% |
| William Kline, LLC | $4,832 | $948 | -80.4% |
| George W. Raulerson | $2,112 | $940 | -55.5% |
| Ricky F Comoglio | $927 | $927 | 0% |
| Jean Sefton | $3,036 | $919 | -69.7% |
| Linda S. Bauldry | $1,613 | $913 | -43.4% |
| Mudd Family Farm, LLC | $2,532 | $880 | -65.2% |
| Otis Smith | $2,292 | $880 | -61.6% |
| Ronald P. Rupp | $1,609 | $865 | -46.2% |
| Ronald P. Rupp | $1,609 | $865 | -46.2% |
| Leeanna Hash | $3,369 | $853 | -74.7% |
| Carrie L Frazer Trust | $7,273 | $852 | -88.3% |
| Cheryl Dianne Crile | $2,906 | $836 | -71.2% |
| Timothy Erwin Fiesler & Bonnie Jo Fiesler Trust | $2,182 | $796 | -63.5% |
| Theodore J. Mills | $3,522 | $793 | -77.5% |
| Jacqueline M. Swank | $791 | $791 | 0% |
| Ed McIntosh | $0 | $784 | — |
| Steven Wilson | $3,163 | $770 | -75.7% |
| Edward Allen Hoover | $4,989 | $735 | -85.3% |
| Lanny Swanner | $451 | $734 | 62.7% |
| Mary L. Boozer | $730 | $730 | 0% |
| Warren Daniel Mills Jr. | $3,036 | $727 | -76.1% |
| Julia Stolzer – Julia Ann Stolzer Liv A. Tr | $1,777 | $716 | -59.7% |
| Fred L. Hough Sr. | $3,094 | $702 | -77.3% |
| David Luznar | $2,672 | $624 | -76.6% |
| Teri L Aguzzi | $1,587 | $610 | -61.6% |
| 3 D Management Properties, LLC | $745 | $609 | -18.3% |
| John Znoroski | $2,052 | $603 | -70.6% |
| David a Workman and Jean Workman Trust Dated 2/16/12 | $599 | $599 | 0% |
| Frank A. Italiano | $1,353 | $595 | -56% |
| Susan Macon | $576 | $576 | 0% |
| Neal H. Ramage | $1,670 | $564 | -66.2% |
| David Mingo Jr. | $1,881 | $528 | -71.9% |
| Roger Janke | $1,592 | $526 | -67% |
| Flying Cross Ranch, LLC | $4,958 | $522 | -89.5% |
| Jean Gregory | $1,430 | $498 | -65.2% |
| Leroy Boock | $498 | $498 | 0% |
| John Hobble II | $597 | $492 | -17.6% |
| John Hobble II | $597 | $492 | -17.6% |
| Jean Hickman | $491 | $491 | 0% |
| Rusty Harper | $0 | $489 | — |
| H. T. Swanner III | $0 | $488 | — |
| Robert J. Hughes | $832 | $475 | -42.9% |
| Web Madison | $2,604 | $474 | -81.8% |
| Phyllis Irene Wirsing Trust | $1,111 | $470 | -57.7% |
| Deborah Murray | $1,771 | $429 | -75.8% |
| Brandimarte & Sons Seafood Company, LLC | $0 | $402 | — |
| Dan Volkman | $0 | $390 | — |
| Shawn David Thiel | $0 | $387 | — |
| Rhonda R Oehlrich | $377 | $377 | 0% |
| George T. Harper | $0 | $371 | — |
| William A. Johnson | $1,068 | $362 | -66.1% |
| Andrew Briggs | $1,708 | $362 | -78.8% |
| Janet Coolidge | $0 | $362 | — |
| Carolyn Ann Johnson | $652 | $346 | -46.9% |
| Eileen McCabe | $1,437 | $342 | -76.2% |
| Donaldsons Ornamentals, Inc. | $26,313 | $340 | -98.7% |
| John A. Johnson | $332 | $332 | 0% |
| Johnny P. Forehand Jr. | $0 | $324 | — |
| James Koepkey | $181 | $269 | 48.6% |
| William Andrew Ross | $499 | $267 | -46.5% |
| Mary Kay Bixby | $555 | $252 | -54.6% |
| Doug Glass | $1,169 | $246 | -79% |
| Laura Conaway | $847 | $242 | -71.4% |
| Jerry Palacios | $1,648 | $242 | -85.3% |
| Jerry D Goodwin Life Estate Trust | $848 | $241 | -71.6% |
| Thomas J. Hogan | $643 | $220 | -65.8% |
| Jannette G. Frohock | $709 | $213 | -70% |
| Lane Conaway | $671 | $207 | -69.2% |
| Honey Bairs of Central FL, Inc. | $906 | $207 | -77.2% |
| Bowyer Family Farm, LLC | $2,689 | $202 | -92.5% |
| Gregory Lefils | $870 | $190 | -78.2% |
| John F. Burney | $358 | $182 | -49.2% |
| Jeri Parhamenko | $108 | $174 | 61.1% |
| Lynn Pinkerton | $262 | $119 | -54.6% |
| Richard B. Hammond Jr. | $250 | $116 | -53.6% |
| Theodore E. Johnson Jr. | $0 | $92 | — |
| James A. Douvier | $502 | $82 | -83.7% |
| Kolleen Kubik | $1,930 | $78 | -96% |
| Lyle Schlesener | $545 | $77 | -85.9% |
| Tommy J. Harmon | $135 | $66 | -51.1% |
| Sandra Cluff Streitberger | $204 | $62 | -69.6% |
| Tara Seguine – Tara Seguine Rev Farm Trust | $937 | $50 | -94.7% |
| Frances Earlywine | $0 | $26 | — |
| Brush Creek Enterprises, LLC | $4,123 | $6 | -99.9% |
| Gary Droppa | $385 | $0 | -100% |
| James Douglas Ellington | $465 | $0 | -100% |
| John R Langford Living Trust | $1,356 | $0 | -100% |
| Anthony A. Adams | $57,530 | $0 | -100% |
| Cypress Farms, LLC | $20,197 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel E. Cone | $2,200 | $0 | -100% |
| Ernest J. Cone | $3,362 | $0 | -100% |
| Grayson Puckett Ferneries, Inc. | $94,413 | $0 | -100% |
| Lonnie Hagstrom | $2,604 | $0 | -100% |
| Quality Growers Floral Company, Inc. | $113,637 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard Douglas Hough | $330 | $0 | -100% |
| Ron Puckett & Sons, Inc. | $34,743 | $0 | -100% |
| S & S Ferneries, LLC | $63,083 | $0 | -100% |
| Spring Garden Greens, LLC | $16,329 | $0 | -100% |
| Travis Campbell | $2,743 | $0 | -100% |
| Windy Hill Ranch and Fernery, Inc. | $4,524 | $0 | -100% |
| Crescent City Tree Farm, Inc. | $11,021 | $0 | -100% |
| Evans Livestock, Inc. | $5,175 | $0 | -100% |
| Harold C. Byron | $2,227 | $0 | -100% |
| HGO Enterprises, LLC | $30,518 | $0 | -100% |
| Highland Park Fernery | $19,794 | $0 | -100% |
| Idlewild Two, LLC | $22,065 | $0 | -100% |
| Joseph Ewing – Joseph T. T. F. Ewing | $891 | $0 | -100% |
| L & L Trees, LLC | $17,917 | $0 | -100% |
| Lawrence a Ritcey | $333 | $0 | -100% |
| Raiford G. Hagstrom Jr. | $21,250 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard S. Marshall | $2,330 | $0 | -100% |
| Seminole Woods Ranch, Inc. | $15,950 | $0 | -100% |
| Felicia Reber | $297 | $0 | -100% |
| Lorraine H. Treadaway | $292 | $0 | -100% |
| Quality Ferns, Inc. | $16,560 | $0 | -100% |
| Bradley Sutherland | $817 | $0 | -100% |
| Emily Gerschefske | $103 | $0 | -100% |
| Larson Hagstrom | $1,918 | $0 | -100% |
| 21ST Century Orchids, LLC | $235,226 | $0 | -100% |
| Indian River Oyster Company | $9,378 | $0 | -100% |
| James V. Fowler II | $19,153 | $0 | -100% |
| Judith P. Ries | $746 | $0 | -100% |
| Kenneth Lee House | $17,222 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael Peters | $2,915 | $0 | -100% |
| Mike’s Cichlids, Inc. | $10,438 | $0 | -100% |
| Mr. Orchids, LLC | $24,080 | $0 | -100% |
| Roberta Kay Hartley | $1,251 | $0 | -100% |
| Sheldon K. Friederich | $325 | $0 | -100% |
| Summer Lake – Grace Groves, LLP | $42,192 | $0 | -100% |
| Mcgee Groves, Inc. | $16,078 | $0 | -100% |
| James E. White | $254 | $0 | -100% |
| Lloyd E. Davis | $11,985 | $0 | -100% |
| Physis Enterprises, LLC | $5,105 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas G. Wright | $1,083 | $0 | -100% |
| Cynthia L. Bourgeois | $1,294 | $0 | -100% |
| David Garrett | $104 | $0 | -100% |
| Ernestene Newsom | $2,855 | $0 | -100% |
| Graham Helmendach | $3,536 | $0 | -100% |
| Louise Routzahn | $414 | $0 | -100% |
| Shirley M Trobaugh Family Trust | $3,330 | $0 | -100% |
| Theresa Boyd Hatcher | $31 | $0 | -100% |
| Albin Hagstrom and Son, Inc. | $659,929 | $0 | -100% |
| Alpha Fern Company, LLC | $250,000 | $0 | -100% |
| Barbara J. Bennett | $13,250 | $0 | -100% |
| Barry Harper Enterprises, LLC | $24,655 | $0 | -100% |
| Bates Cut Foliage, LLC | $35,480 | $0 | -100% |
| Brian L. Smith | $33,646 | $0 | -100% |
| C Frank Jones Ferns, Inc. | $66,656 | $0 | -100% |
| Charles S. Hartley | $10,483 | $0 | -100% |
| Clarence Wayne Peterson | $41,154 | $0 | -100% |
| Clemente Renteria | $20,913 | $0 | -100% |
| Deann L Hansen-Gemeinhardt | $2,467 | $0 | -100% |
| Dennis Byrd Ferneries, LLC | $14,902 | $0 | -100% |
| E P Richardson Ferneries, LLC | $58,454 | $0 | -100% |
| Emporia’s Lilly Grass, LLC | $5,334 | $0 | -100% |
| Flowing Well Tree Farm, LLC | $81,191 | $0 | -100% |
| Gene York and Sons, Inc. | $9,947 | $0 | -100% |
| Gregory R. Dixon | $47,559 | $0 | -100% |
| Hagstrom Brothers Ferneries | $14,386 | $0 | -100% |
| Hopkins Quality Foliage, Inc. | $34,351 | $0 | -100% |
| Jasmine Bay Ferneries, LLC | $41,259 | $0 | -100% |
| John a Puckett Ferneries, LLC | $269,414 | $0 | -100% |
| John L. Flowers | $50,631 | $0 | -100% |
| Lake Drudy Farms, LLC | $13,978 | $0 | -100% |
| Lars B. Hagstrom | $91,135 | $0 | -100% |
| Natures Foliage, Inc. | $57,134 | $0 | -100% |
| Norma Jones | $282,110 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard A. Price | $23,371 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard Edward Hagstrom | $40,108 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard Erik Hagstrom | $55,597 | $0 | -100% |
| Roberto Rivera | $523 | $0 | -100% |
| Royce D. Hagstrom | $69,790 | $0 | -100% |
| Royce D. Hagstrom Jr. | $7,327 | $0 | -100% |
| Rusty Harper Ferneries, LLC | $88,691 | $0 | -100% |
| Shaw Lake Farms, Inc. | $75,198 | $0 | -100% |
| The Magnolia Company, Inc. | $98,865 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas O. Cowart | $24,700 | $0 | -100% |
| Trever Hagstrom | $11,809 | $0 | -100% |
| Willie & Benny Dampier Ferneries | $9,553 | $0 | -100% |
| Ann P. Williams | $7,955 | $0 | -100% |
| Dianne Y Moore Living Trust – Dia | $36,003 | $0 | -100% |
| Dorothy Matuska | $9,980 | $0 | -100% |
| Kay D. Cooper | $3,461 | $0 | -100% |
| Larry Schlasinger | $13 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard S Moore Living Trust – RI | $39,316 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert L. Carter | $36 | $0 | -100% |
| Adam Braddock Ferneries, Inc. | $2,309 | $0 | -100% |
| David W. Register | $38,175 | $0 | -100% |
| Elizabeth Haynes | $7,231 | $0 | -100% |
| Great Atlantic Fern Company, Inc. | $238,561 | $0 | -100% |
| Greg V. Gamble | $7,028 | $0 | -100% |
| Hammond Station Growers, Inc. | $37,277 | $0 | -100% |
| Immo Redeker | $20,000 | $0 | -100% |
| J & a Land Company, Inc. | $52,174 | $0 | -100% |
| J Register Farms, Inc. | $46,130 | $0 | -100% |
| Jana B. Register | $7,723 | $0 | -100% |
| Kenneth Holness | $3,063 | $0 | -100% |
| M W Ferns, LLC | $24,746 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael A. Cade | $7,321 | $0 | -100% |
| Mitchel David Mills | $4,778 | $0 | -100% |
| Sutton Farms USA, Inc. | $15,752 | $0 | -100% |
| Tollison Foliage, LLC | $26,648 | $0 | -100% |
| Tommie Bennett | $74,996 | $0 | -100% |
| Chicago Title Land Trust No 3308 | $701 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $7,479,358 | $1,792,084 | -76% |
