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In 2021, 247 farmers in cities within Okeechobee County received a total of $4.9 million in 301 farm subsidies, a 77.5% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $21.7 million in 594 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 Okeechobee County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| J M Larson, Inc. | $1,021,212 | $346,674 | -66.1% |
| Willaway Cattle Company, Inc. | $10,340 | $332,846 | 3,119% |
| Coco Sod Farms, Inc. | $0 | $250,000 | -- |
| Davie Dairy, Inc. | $2,047,538 | $241,016 | -88.2% |
| Statewide Land Services, LLC | $0 | $194,152 | -- |
| Williamson Cattle Company | $1,300,190 | $175,526 | -86.5% |
| Stouts Valley Farms, LLC | $334,158 | $125,600 | -62.4% |
| C & M Rucks Dairy, Inc. | $1,022,081 | $120,508 | -88.2% |
| Family Tree Enteprises, LLLP | $1,000,817 | $120,508 | -88% |
| Lafayette Dairy, LLC | $25,360 | $120,508 | 375.2% |
| Larson Dairy, Inc. | $926,751 | $120,508 | -87% |
| Milking R, Inc. | $474,963 | $120,508 | -74.6% |
| Agriturf, Inc. | $0 | $115,310 | -- |
| Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. | $334,707 | $107,466 | -67.9% |
| Dudley R. Kirton | $10,670 | $92,174 | 763.9% |
| Cypress Point Land & Cattle, LLC | $10,109 | $86,458 | 755.3% |
| Stokes Cattle Ranch, LLP | $369,882 | $79,460 | -78.5% |
| Jim Harvey | $63,177 | $59,320 | -6.1% |
| Hales Land & Cattle, LLC | $484,168 | $56,445 | -88.3% |
| Fra-Mar Enterprises, Inc. | $180,061 | $53,785 | -70.1% |
| W C W Holdings, LLLP | $50,000 | $50,000 | 0% |
| LC Cattle, LLC | $0 | $47,850 | -- |
| Scarborough Ranch, LLC | $119,392 | $41,417 | -65.3% |
| Keith Lewis | $174,768 | $37,700 | -78.4% |
| Seth Louthan | $180,790 | $36,850 | -79.6% |
| Wolff Brothers Partnership | $38,724 | $36,745 | -5.1% |
| Matt R. Pearce | $290,048 | $31,012 | -89.3% |
| All Green Ranch, LLC | $0 | $30,754 | -- |
| Corona Cattle, LLC | $130,395 | $30,551 | -76.6% |
| Syfrett Ranch, Inc. | $104,676 | $29,692 | -71.6% |
| Stanlo Johns | $23,100 | $29,672 | 28.5% |
| Okeechobee Livestock Market, Inc. | $135,454 | $29,383 | -78.3% |
| Colby Joseph Pimentel | $0 | $28,383 | -- |
| Rafter H Enterprises, LLC | $27,934 | $28,294 | 1.3% |
| Labelle Ranch, Inc. | $161,067 | $28,258 | -82.5% |
| Old River Cattle Company, LLC | $125,590 | $27,302 | -78.3% |
| D L Pearce Ranch, Inc. | $129,188 | $27,031 | -79.1% |
| Arrow C Cattle, Corp. | $121,322 | $26,588 | -78.1% |
| Newcomer Ranch | $130,657 | $25,453 | -80.5% |
| H W Rucks & Son Dairy, Inc. | $754,906 | $24,813 | -96.7% |
| Triraven, LLC | $149,993 | $24,267 | -83.8% |
| Pelaez and Sons, Inc. | $102,560 | $23,726 | -76.9% |
| Rio Rancho, Corp. | $99,759 | $23,719 | -76.2% |
| Circle X Cattle, LLC | $0 | $22,660 | -- |
| Sean McCarthy | $64,598 | $21,925 | -66.1% |
| R Bar Estates, Inc. | $91,464 | $21,873 | -76.1% |
| A & D Cattle Ranch, Inc. | $116,192 | $21,814 | -81.2% |
| Debbie Carter | $11,165 | $19,640 | 75.9% |
| Danielle Larson | $67,481 | $18,992 | -71.9% |
| C Perry Smith Revocable Trust | $210,253 | $18,830 | -91% |
| Eddie Shore | $10,230 | $18,830 | 84.1% |
| B & E Ranch & Grove, LLC | $73,704 | $17,473 | -76.3% |
| Linville Creek Cattle Company, LLC | $60,073 | $17,353 | -71.1% |
| Leroy Rohde, LLC | $68,530 | $17,272 | -74.8% |
| John Rohde, LLC | $68,497 | $17,255 | -74.8% |
| Sam Clemons | $0 | $16,720 | -- |
| Lola Gopher | $8,360 | $16,574 | 98.3% |
| Ellen C. Smith | $9,515 | $16,442 | 72.8% |
| Valerie Lewis | $77,187 | $16,430 | -78.7% |
| Barry Lewis | $77,062 | $16,413 | -78.7% |
| Cow Creek Cattle, LLC | $171,858 | $16,371 | -90.5% |
| Fitz Hugh Williams III | $43,892 | $16,310 | -62.8% |
| Bradford McFarland | $74,123 | $16,037 | -78.4% |
| Martha Bowers Jones | $7,480 | $15,235 | 103.7% |
| Scotty Baxley | $7,150 | $14,828 | 107.4% |
| 7 W Cattle, LLC | $7,370 | $14,775 | 100.5% |
| Mary J. Koenes | $7,865 | $14,161 | 80.1% |
| Micco Bluff Cattle, LLLP | $58,924 | $14,083 | -76.1% |
| Todd Clemons Family, LLC | $58,267 | $13,743 | -76.4% |
| Mark A. Pearce | $61,097 | $13,507 | -77.9% |
| One Nine Cattle Company | $95,290 | $13,397 | -85.9% |
| Diane Smith | $6,985 | $13,363 | 91.3% |
| TB4 Enterprises, LLC | $6,875 | $13,125 | 90.9% |
| K Diamond Cattle, LLC | $11,892 | $13,091 | 10.1% |
| Addie Osceola | $6,270 | $13,028 | 107.8% |
| Geneva Shore | $6,655 | $13,017 | 95.6% |
| Alderman-Deloney Ranch, LLP | $67,050 | $12,939 | -80.7% |
| First American Land & Cattle, LLC | $70,601 | $11,938 | -83.1% |
| D Cross Ranch, Inc. | $54,621 | $11,806 | -78.4% |
| Norman Johns | $5,830 | $11,708 | 100.8% |
| Clemons Oak Creek, LLC | $56,667 | $11,534 | -79.6% |
| Patty J. Waldron | $5,610 | $11,096 | 97.8% |
| Indian Prairie Cattle Company, Inc. | $40,062 | $11,002 | -72.5% |
| Theresa Johns | $5,225 | $10,755 | 105.8% |
| A Jaunett Watford Lee | $45,652 | $10,744 | -76.5% |
| Cab Butts | $51,369 | $10,277 | -80% |
| Jim Harvey Jr. | $43,817 | $10,094 | -77% |
| Ronald L. Boling | $16,476 | $9,889 | -40% |
| Connie Whidden | $5,060 | $9,858 | 94.8% |
| Beulah L. Gopher | $5,005 | $9,765 | 95.1% |
| Lazy JP, Inc. | $37,035 | $9,748 | -73.7% |
| Deep South Sugar, Corp. | $7,253 | $9,671 | 33.3% |
| DR Paul D Bryant, DVM | $39,820 | $9,485 | -76.2% |
| Rodney A. Osceola | $3,520 | $9,475 | 169.2% |
| Pearce Ranch, Inc. | $43,918 | $9,116 | -79.2% |
| Grandpas Family Cattle, LLC | $5,115 | $9,073 | 77.4% |
| Thomas W. Strode | $8,794 | $8,794 | 0% |
| J L Farms, LLC | $40,587 | $8,574 | -78.9% |
| Diane Dees | $28,598 | $8,425 | -70.5% |
| Mound Prairie Ranch, LLC. | $45,004 | $8,415 | -81.3% |
| Paul Bowers | $4,400 | $8,415 | 91.3% |
| Davie Raulerson | $30,652 | $8,314 | -72.9% |
| Earl Raulerson | $30,550 | $8,314 | -72.8% |
| Coker Cattle Corporation | $45,283 | $8,195 | -81.9% |
| Waga Hopoyet, LLC | $4,400 | $8,177 | 85.8% |
| Crown Ventures, LLC | $39,666 | $8,048 | -79.7% |
| Jack Smith Jr. | $4,235 | $7,975 | 88.3% |
| Mary Jo Micco | $3,355 | $7,917 | 136% |
| Brewer Cattle Company, LLC | $29,381 | $7,820 | -73.4% |
| Avalon Puente | $3,960 | $7,762 | 96% |
| Mahala Madrigal | $3,850 | $7,650 | 98.7% |
| Lewis T. Gopher | $3,905 | $7,627 | 95.3% |
| C 2 Ranch, Inc. | $41,715 | $7,441 | -82.2% |
| Newt Mattson | $21,582 | $7,344 | -66% |
| Four K Ranch, Inc. | $37,639 | $7,243 | -80.8% |
| Lewis Livestock, Inc. | $0 | $7,040 | -- |
| Larry Richmeier | $13,380 | $7,020 | -47.5% |
| Bass Ranch, Inc. | $31,620 | $6,937 | -78.1% |
| Daniel B. Candler | $34,352 | $6,854 | -80% |
| Rabe D. Rabon | $24,255 | $6,804 | -71.9% |
| Matthew J. Gopher | $3,410 | $6,767 | 98.4% |
| David R. Daniel III | $164,059 | $6,692 | -95.9% |
| Bar 87 Cattle, LLC | $31,493 | $6,574 | -79.1% |
| Caloosa Ranch, LLC | $52,977 | $6,526 | -87.7% |
| Thomas M. White Jr. | $30,249 | $6,075 | -79.9% |
| GA, LLC | $28,072 | $5,860 | -79.1% |
| Bar Diamond Cattle, LLC | $0 | $5,830 | -- |
| Carlos Leon | $0 | $5,665 | -- |
| W J Wallace | $19,679 | $5,547 | -71.8% |
| Manuel Tiger | $2,805 | $5,505 | 96.3% |
| Randy A. Fulford | $25,080 | $5,448 | -78.3% |
| Larry S. Weeks Jr. | $0 | $5,419 | -- |
| 101 Ranch, Inc. | $22,767 | $5,418 | -76.2% |
| 3R Joint Venture | $62,800 | $5,378 | -91.4% |
| Warren Blaine Harvey | $16,386 | $5,080 | -69% |
| M-P Land & Cattle, LLC | $23,683 | $5,076 | -78.6% |
| FD Cattle, LLC | $28,748 | $5,055 | -82.4% |
| Jack Chalfant | $2,475 | $4,958 | 100.3% |
| Pugh Cattle Company, LLC | $25,859 | $4,743 | -81.7% |
| Keith L. Stephens | $317,560 | $4,680 | -98.5% |
| William S. Curren | $27,442 | $4,605 | -83.2% |
| Bandi Cattle, LLC | $19,393 | $4,568 | -76.4% |
| Diamond C Ranch, LLC | $11,286 | $4,516 | -60% |
| Gerald E. Hume | $4,505 | $4,505 | 0% |
| John Williams | $23,100 | $4,436 | -80.8% |
| Perry Cattle Ranch, LLC | $41,633 | $4,426 | -89.4% |
| Jeremiah Kesner | $18,998 | $4,320 | -77.3% |
| Lloyd Boney | $13,752 | $4,298 | -68.7% |
| Smokey Hollow Farms, LLC | $4,248 | $4,248 | 0% |
| Clinton M. Rucks | $19,393 | $4,118 | -78.8% |
| John E Entry IV | $19,151 | $4,058 | -78.8% |
| JT1957, LLC | $12,705 | $3,972 | -68.7% |
| Watford Agent, Inc. | $18,535 | $3,917 | -78.9% |
| Gurnee J. Thomas | $16,834 | $3,747 | -77.7% |
| Leslie J. Guillot II | $16,734 | $3,522 | -79% |
| Linda Lee Sapp | $35,921 | $3,324 | -90.7% |
| K a Driggers and Sons Cattle | $48,717 | $3,297 | -93.2% |
| H & P Holdings, LLC | $14,575 | $3,134 | -78.5% |
| Susan Williams | $12,826 | $2,989 | -76.7% |
| Frankie and Charles, Inc. | $14,820 | $2,976 | -79.9% |
| Lee Watford | $14,553 | $2,898 | -80.1% |
| Robert E. Claxton Jr. | $19,037 | $2,846 | -85.1% |
| Roger F. Davis | $2,958 | $2,822 | -4.6% |
| Lucas Mateo Espada | $12,516 | $2,616 | -79.1% |
| Elda Mae Bass | $10,593 | $2,612 | -75.3% |
| Robbins Cattle Company, LLC | $11,473 | $2,612 | -77.2% |
| Daniel Byrd | $20,565 | $2,536 | -87.7% |
| Thelma L. Hazellief | $26,019 | $2,476 | -90.5% |
| Monrad Chandler | $0 | $2,379 | -- |
| Joel B. Davis | $7,027 | $2,293 | -67.4% |
| John M. Larson | $5,154 | $2,285 | -55.7% |
| Travis L. Brown | $10,002 | $2,282 | -77.2% |
| Bruce B. McClamroch | $2,281 | $2,281 | 0% |
| Jed Gray | $8,472 | $2,204 | -74% |
| Wendy S. Culberson | $8,415 | $2,180 | -74.1% |
| Hamilton Bishop | $9,327 | $2,122 | -77.2% |
| William Corona | $8,975 | $2,118 | -76.4% |
| Lori C. Berger | $2,447 | $2,068 | -15.5% |
| Philip Y. Berger | $2,447 | $2,068 | -15.5% |
| Jerry A. Collier | $9,339 | $2,059 | -78% |
| Sylvester Charles Spinetta III | $0 | $1,980 | -- |
| Tir N 'og Inc., NA | $6,920 | $1,974 | -71.5% |
| Paulette B. Yates | $1,813 | $1,928 | 6.3% |
| Charles Stephen Busbin | $8,833 | $1,924 | -78.2% |
| Clyde Jeffrey Bass | $9,040 | $1,920 | -78.8% |
| Richard Mixon | $7,920 | $1,800 | -77.3% |
| Tammy Preston | $29,128 | $1,792 | -93.8% |
| Phyllis Norris | $11,110 | $1,789 | -83.9% |
| Hales Farms, Inc. | $53,451 | $1,772 | -96.7% |
| Derek Thomas Walker | $7,711 | $1,734 | -77.5% |
| James G. Music | $4,092 | $1,668 | -59.2% |
| Capote Cattle, Inc. | $7,906 | $1,608 | -79.7% |
| Wayne Carr | $5,130 | $1,540 | -70% |
| Stephanie Denise Colgan | $5,643 | $1,521 | -73% |
| J2 Cattle Company, LLC | $6,081 | $1,508 | -75.2% |
| Cattlemen's Market of Okeechobee, LLC | $3,432 | $1,506 | -56.1% |
| Larry Kesner | $0 | $1,430 | -- |
| James Earl Beck | $4,994 | $1,412 | -71.7% |
| Carol McGrory | $0 | $1,342 | -- |
| Timothy Wojcieszak | $0 | $1,293 | -- |
| Keith G. Bass | $5,570 | $1,280 | -77% |
| Charles R. Kinberger | $1,248 | $1,248 | 0% |
| Janet Elaine Draper | $3,547 | $1,184 | -66.6% |
| BMT Ranch, LLC | $5,237 | $1,180 | -77.5% |
| Chad W. Rucks | $5,280 | $1,159 | -78% |
| Hank A. Rucks | $5,280 | $1,159 | -78% |
| Okeechobee Fence Company, LLC | $1,848 | $1,101 | -40.4% |
| Ignacio F. Lizama | $2,682 | $1,078 | -59.8% |
| Jack F. Bylsma II | $655 | $1,060 | 61.8% |
| Leslie Summerford | $2,376 | $1,054 | -55.6% |
| Jorge Anuez | $5,451 | $1,009 | -81.5% |
| Lynn Greeson | $0 | $990 | -- |
| Matt Clemons Jr. | $9,131 | $986 | -89.2% |
| Marciano C. Sanchez | $3,652 | $944 | -74.2% |
| Michael Wells | $3,168 | $875 | -72.4% |
| William Berman Revocable Trust | $3,608 | $870 | -75.9% |
| Curtis Glynn Rutledge Revocable Trust | $3,663 | $852 | -76.7% |
| Lee C. Jones | $5,400 | $814 | -84.9% |
| Terry Dwayne Blair | $800 | $800 | 0% |
| James Colt Kitaif | $5,714 | $753 | -86.8% |
| John Strenth | $3,569 | $720 | -79.8% |
| Lavon R. Dickey | $0 | $717 | -- |
| Ronald Edgar Thomas | $3,671 | $682 | -81.4% |
| Cody Carter | $2,915 | $678 | -76.7% |
| C. J. Worthington | $2,814 | $641 | -77.2% |
| Robert R. Farmer | $586 | $607 | 3.6% |
| Joseph Thompson II | $2,354 | $560 | -76.2% |
| Roy Thomas | $2,640 | $560 | -78.8% |
| Kade Smith | $3,708 | $552 | -85.1% |
| Pompano Cattle Company | $6,512 | $518 | -92% |
| Megan Williamson | $2,277 | $498 | -78.1% |
| Rick Hartman | $1,164 | $448 | -61.5% |
| Bill Maxwell | $1,408 | $440 | -68.8% |
| H L Barber | $1,345 | $424 | -68.5% |
| Brad Oneal Rucks | $0 | $419 | -- |
| Pauline M. Daniel | $1,334 | $418 | -68.7% |
| Sheila B. Madrigal | $1,958 | $387 | -80.2% |
| Gordon L. Sanders | $693 | $385 | -44.4% |
| Jody F. Raulerson | $1,089 | $385 | -64.6% |
| Rodney Carden | $42 | $316 | 652.4% |
| South Florida Stockyard, LLC | $4,213 | $276 | -93.4% |
| Alice Marie McDuffie | $737 | $221 | -70% |
| P W Bishop Dairy, Inc. | $360,354 | $197 | -99.9% |
| Kimberly Sue Korbel | $318 | $87 | -72.6% |
| Mack B. Whittle III | $0 | $78 | -- |
| Candace L. Davis | $108 | $25 | -76.9% |
| J. B. Worthington Real Estate Trust | $330 | $3 | -99.1% |
| Anthony Dean Stark | $2,332 | $0 | -100% |
| Anuez Cattle, LLC | $109,609 | $0 | -100% |
| Audrey Kuipers | $550 | $0 | -100% |
| Barry Rodgers | $327 | $0 | -100% |
| Billy Allen Farms, LLLP | $17,471 | $0 | -100% |
| Biofarm Grassfed Provisions, LLC | $5,066 | $0 | -100% |
| Cetam, LLC | $75,357 | $0 | -100% |
| Charles A. Lagrange | $266,830 | $0 | -100% |
| Codi Allen Town | $3,355 | $0 | -100% |
| Cory Allen Stephen | $825 | $0 | -100% |
| Crewsville Dairy, Inc. | $229,346 | $0 | -100% |
| Center Cattle, LLC | $14,685 | $0 | -100% |
| David Feltenberger | $17,325 | $0 | -100% |
| Dennis Bryan | $52,580 | $0 | -100% |
| Diamond H Cattle Company, LLC | $1,320 | $0 | -100% |
| E4 Cattle Company, LLC | $28,116 | $0 | -100% |
| Edward R. Mattson II | $3,850 | $0 | -100% |
| Home Grown Fruit, Inc. | $5,624 | $0 | -100% |
| II Partners, LLC | $4,290 | $0 | -100% |
| Jacob N Larson | $25,135 | $0 | -100% |
| James D. Prescott | $6,600 | $0 | -100% |
| Kevin Fuller | $3,905 | $0 | -100% |
| Kissimmee River Ranch, LLC | $10,890 | $0 | -100% |
| KR Transport & Services, LLC | $176,469 | $0 | -100% |
| Lykes Bros, Inc. | $123,474 | $0 | -100% |
| Marshall Coker | $9,625 | $0 | -100% |
| Melon Heads, LLC | $604,931 | $0 | -100% |
| Osteen Farms, Inc. | $186,581 | $0 | -100% |
| Perry Smith & Sons, Inc. | $355,303 | $0 | -100% |
| Pete Beaty Ranch, LLC | $377,820 | $0 | -100% |
| Pine Island Dairy, Inc. | $248,924 | $0 | -100% |
| Pioneer Grove, Inc. | $93,620 | $0 | -100% |
| Prescott Family Ranch, LLC | $22,935 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard A. Postell | $1,497 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard W. Beck | $36,634 | $0 | -100% |
| Rock Hill Ranch, Inc. | $4,180 | $0 | -100% |
| Ronald James Clark | $17,600 | $0 | -100% |
| Ross Eaton | $2,234 | $0 | -100% |
| Smith-Okeechobee Farms, Inc. | $915,800 | $0 | -100% |
| Southern Accent Farm | $19,305 | $0 | -100% |
| Steve Beaty | $12,925 | $0 | -100% |
| Timothy D. French | $261 | $0 | -100% |
| Triple L Farms, LLC | $14,189 | $0 | -100% |
| Wolff Brothers Dairy, Inc. | $3,533 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $21,664,831 | $4,883,985 | -77.5% |
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