Farms throughout cities in Mifflin County received $2.7 million less in subsidies in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to the year before.
In 2021, 183 farmers in cities within Mifflin County received a total of $3.8 million in 417 farm subsidies, a 41.9% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $6.5 million in 736 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 Mifflin County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Stone Agent, Inc. | $250,000 | $280,000 | 12% |
| Kish View Farm | $486,958 | $154,243 | -68.3% |
| Jason L. Goss | $306,735 | $154,078 | -49.8% |
| Casstead Farms LP | $122,266 | $125,578 | 2.7% |
| Forgy’s Dairy | $191,488 | $101,772 | -46.9% |
| David G. Stuck | $117,571 | $95,444 | -18.8% |
| Dryhouse Farm, LLC | $143,141 | $91,084 | -36.4% |
| Galen R. Groff Jr. | $176,107 | $88,793 | -49.6% |
| Leon E. Groff | $110,748 | $83,599 | -24.5% |
| Shawn M. Smoker | $123,573 | $82,803 | -33% |
| Warren E. Groff | $118,455 | $80,600 | -32% |
| Woodedge Farm, LLC | $115,901 | $78,991 | -31.8% |
| Timothy J. Kauffman | $103,195 | $76,495 | -25.9% |
| Dean L. Groff | $69,537 | $76,165 | 9.5% |
| Charles Rittenhouse | $89,095 | $75,225 | -15.6% |
| James R. Stauffer | $81,868 | $69,169 | -15.5% |
| Chase J. Peachey | $90,600 | $69,133 | -23.7% |
| Peach Brook Farm, LLC | $89,488 | $69,122 | -22.8% |
| David C. Peachey | $87,497 | $66,550 | -23.9% |
| Loren K. Yoder | $72,230 | $61,837 | -14.4% |
| Matthew J. Yoder | $76,559 | $59,318 | -22.5% |
| Crist G. Stimely | $71,320 | $59,167 | -17% |
| Joseph R. Diehl | $102,241 | $58,489 | -42.8% |
| Peachee Farms | $67,558 | $58,097 | -14% |
| Shawn D. Yoder | $71,746 | $56,001 | -21.9% |
| Robert E. Peachey | $72,312 | $55,961 | -22.6% |
| Jason M. Kauffman | $75,291 | $53,128 | -29.4% |
| Yoder’s Timber Harvesting, LLC | $0 | $52,875 | — |
| Steven R. Byler | $85,429 | $52,778 | -38.2% |
| Lavern M. King | $65,630 | $49,207 | -25% |
| Vernon R. Yoder | $43,381 | $47,046 | 8.4% |
| Groff Farms, LLC | $118,490 | $45,971 | -61.2% |
| Loren D. Stutzman | $67,345 | $45,450 | -32.5% |
| Leonard R. Hostetler | $55,394 | $43,623 | -21.2% |
| Steven R. Smith | $42,252 | $42,092 | -0.4% |
| William H. Haughwout | $62,530 | $41,904 | -33% |
| Chester M. Zook | $52,431 | $41,652 | -20.6% |
| Tobias S. Peachey | $40,918 | $39,499 | -3.5% |
| Horningford Dairy, LLC | $46,762 | $33,623 | -28.1% |
| Jeffrey A. Ranck | $41,029 | $33,007 | -19.6% |
| Clark N. Peachey | $37,732 | $32,488 | -13.9% |
| Matthew J. Groff | $37,745 | $32,147 | -14.8% |
| Sheldon J. Graybill | $37,281 | $31,641 | -15.1% |
| Kevin J. Peachey | $45,783 | $28,979 | -36.7% |
| Derry L. Musser | $68,901 | $28,740 | -58.3% |
| Harrop Farms | $153,573 | $28,476 | -81.5% |
| Stanford R. Dunk Jr. | $60,112 | $28,298 | -52.9% |
| John B. Peachey IV | $0 | $24,235 | — |
| Steve A. Peachey | $31,807 | $23,128 | -27.3% |
| Faye A. Fisher | $18,018 | $20,870 | 15.8% |
| Brubaker Trucking, LLC | $0 | $20,067 | — |
| William L. Sellers | $16,675 | $17,544 | 5.2% |
| Randy J. Casner | $23,759 | $15,691 | -34% |
| Maurice H. Stidfole | $18,542 | $15,459 | -16.6% |
| James A. Spangler | $14,814 | $13,984 | -5.6% |
| Timothy Wray | $0 | $13,953 | — |
| David R. Stewart | $19,111 | $13,790 | -27.8% |
| Jared T. Yoder | $15,701 | $13,581 | -13.5% |
| David C. Yoder | $96,034 | $12,472 | -87% |
| Benjamin L. Zook | $18,120 | $12,133 | -33% |
| James W. Boring | $11,520 | $11,520 | 0% |
| David L. Mitchell | $17,365 | $11,229 | -35.3% |
| Thomas W. Sheaffer | $16,623 | $11,043 | -33.6% |
| David C. Glick | $13,201 | $10,587 | -19.8% |
| Constance J. Parkes | $33,636 | $10,331 | -69.3% |
| Alvin Peachey | $18,563 | $9,719 | -47.6% |
| Brian E. Kline | $9,592 | $9,592 | 0% |
| Glenn R. Yoder | $33,080 | $9,318 | -71.8% |
| Brian R. Kearns | $38,325 | $8,855 | -76.9% |
| Stephen P. Kanagy | $17,012 | $8,529 | -49.9% |
| Robert L. Peachey | $0 | $8,040 | — |
| Matthew R. Snyder | $12,565 | $7,594 | -39.6% |
| David T. Filson | $7,037 | $7,037 | 0% |
| Ruth Ann Thompson | $5,050 | $6,976 | 38.1% |
| Ammon Farms, Inc. | $72,793 | $6,864 | -90.6% |
| Pamela J. Forgy | $23,914 | $6,644 | -72.2% |
| Kirby M. Reichert Jr. | $6,381 | $6,603 | 3.5% |
| Samuel K. Kauffman | $10,508 | $6,364 | -39.4% |
| Glenn D. Eberly | $17,177 | $6,190 | -64% |
| William a Capouillez | $6,107 | $6,107 | 0% |
| William J. Goss | $5,412 | $6,008 | 11% |
| Gregory J. Hostetter | $38,241 | $5,988 | -84.3% |
| Steven A. Glick | $11,792 | $5,829 | -50.6% |
| Setzler Brothers Agriculture, LLC | $5,339 | $5,533 | 3.6% |
| John D. Spicher | $60,474 | $5,522 | -90.9% |
| Bella Vista Farm | $6,831 | $5,481 | -19.8% |
| Linda Y. Will | $5,462 | $5,462 | 0% |
| Kenneth J & Betty J Hartzler Rev Trust | $3,510 | $5,056 | 44% |
| Shirley L. Davidheiser | $0 | $5,028 | — |
| Nancy L. Wertz | $4,876 | $4,876 | 0% |
| Jeffrey G. White | $6,882 | $4,874 | -29.2% |
| Aquilla I. Yoder | $3,434 | $4,802 | 39.8% |
| Beech-Run Dairy, LLC | $2,152 | $4,732 | 119.9% |
| Mark A. Peachey | $52,855 | $4,673 | -91.2% |
| Titus R. Peachey | $80,614 | $4,375 | -94.6% |
| James S. White Jr. | $10,260 | $4,283 | -58.3% |
| S Douglas & Bradley a Glick | $39,095 | $4,276 | -89.1% |
| Stanley A. McKee | $4,963 | $4,217 | -15% |
| Dale D. Vaughan | $4,170 | $4,032 | -3.3% |
| Hunter L. Goss | $2,472 | $3,939 | 59.3% |
| Ivan T. Peachey | $55,485 | $3,868 | -93% |
| Keith E Savitts | $28,981 | $3,809 | -86.9% |
| Merlin R. Stoltzfus | $4,571 | $3,770 | -17.5% |
| Joseph M. Young | $6,025 | $3,745 | -37.8% |
| Gordon R. McKee | $18,551 | $3,736 | -79.9% |
| Mary A. Ford | $3,689 | $3,689 | 0% |
| Melvin R. Peachey | $33,376 | $3,560 | -89.3% |
| Robert L. Plank Jr. | $8,282 | $3,533 | -57.3% |
| John Irvin Fleming | $6,535 | $3,284 | -49.7% |
| Leon D. Hostetler | $41,736 | $3,120 | -92.5% |
| Ore Bank Farm, LLC | $8,297 | $3,113 | -62.5% |
| Gerald E. Moist | $9,264 | $2,995 | -67.7% |
| Lee Sunderland | $4,679 | $2,983 | -36.2% |
| Buck Run Farms | $9,516 | $2,947 | -69% |
| Besch Farm, LLC | $2,209 | $2,940 | 33.1% |
| Daryl Matthew Kauffman | $3,841 | $2,824 | -26.5% |
| Allen A. Fultz | $40,845 | $2,819 | -93.1% |
| Michael V. Goss | $7,667 | $2,817 | -63.3% |
| Paul L. Forgy | $17,712 | $2,809 | -84.1% |
| Lewis W. Nolt | $5,094 | $2,750 | -46% |
| David J. Peachey | $9,103 | $2,740 | -69.9% |
| Russell H. Renninger Jr. | $4,422 | $2,701 | -38.9% |
| Michael J. Smith | $12,449 | $2,693 | -78.4% |
| Mark M. Ellinger | $4,519 | $2,668 | -41% |
| Kenneth L. Hebel | $8,003 | $2,659 | -66.8% |
| John A. Yoder | $4,718 | $2,426 | -48.6% |
| James D. Byler | $12,596 | $2,114 | -83.2% |
| Reed Ivan Macknair | $3,506 | $2,037 | -41.9% |
| Edwin L. Aurand | $5,172 | $1,970 | -61.9% |
| Joseph D. Weaver | $5,319 | $1,968 | -63% |
| Michael J. Arnold | $4,861 | $1,935 | -60.2% |
| Fred W. Rhodes | $17,255 | $1,917 | -88.9% |
| Paul H. Yoder | $5,478 | $1,912 | -65.1% |
| James R. Hurlburt Jr. | $3,467 | $1,854 | -46.5% |
| Mark E. Fink | $4,994 | $1,837 | -63.2% |
| Craig A. Fisher | $2,952 | $1,772 | -40% |
| Larue M. Maurer | $2,080 | $1,635 | -21.4% |
| Duane D. Gearhart | $6,338 | $1,622 | -74.4% |
| Carroll John Luft | $0 | $1,538 | — |
| Russel L. Kline | $1,300 | $1,506 | 15.8% |
| Joseph H. Dunmire | $1,458 | $1,458 | 0% |
| Loren J. Yoder | $5,771 | $1,420 | -75.4% |
| Dale I. King | $3,501 | $1,394 | -60.2% |
| David K. Cassel | $6,269 | $1,393 | -77.8% |
| David P. Zook | $30,624 | $1,384 | -95.5% |
| Adam D. Glick | $4,874 | $1,289 | -73.6% |
| Charles J. Laughlin | $318 | $1,268 | 298.7% |
| John B. Eby II | $1,920 | $1,244 | -35.2% |
| James N. Whitt | $42,751 | $1,225 | -97.1% |
| Raymond J. Byler | $1,222 | $1,222 | 0% |
| Arlan J. Peachey | $2,440 | $1,181 | -51.6% |
| Steve M. Walters | $12,205 | $1,093 | -91% |
| James M. Spicher | $19,797 | $1,065 | -94.6% |
| Bradley T. Shutt | $2,102 | $1,055 | -49.8% |
| Faber Walters | $11,623 | $1,050 | -91% |
| Joel A. Yoder | $17,567 | $1,025 | -94.2% |
| Steven L. Hesser | $4,386 | $945 | -78.5% |
| Raymond J. Kauffman | $33,785 | $919 | -97.3% |
| James J. Goss | $1,485 | $870 | -41.4% |
| Michael L. Kline | $5,081 | $820 | -83.9% |
| Israel B. Byler | $25,639 | $810 | -96.8% |
| Dennis R. Strock | $734 | $764 | 4.1% |
| Joy Stine | $2,723 | $764 | -71.9% |
| Robert B. Bubb | $1,867 | $753 | -59.7% |
| Lois E. Dunmire | $729 | $729 | 0% |
| Timothy Dunmire | $729 | $729 | 0% |
| Tyler Reitz | $765 | $707 | -7.6% |
| Mark A. Sunderland | $2,849 | $633 | -77.8% |
| Nathan R. Yoder | $9,301 | $630 | -93.2% |
| Jarod W. Armstrong | $0 | $605 | — |
| John R. Besch | $585 | $585 | 0% |
| Jeremy Scyoc | $433 | $433 | 0% |
| Samuel C. Setzler | $1,738 | $418 | -75.9% |
| Anthony J. Miller | $2,737 | $403 | -85.3% |
| Katherine W. Esh | $95 | $359 | 277.9% |
| John E. Sheaffer | $1,246 | $342 | -72.6% |
| Lee D. Yoder | $29,295 | $226 | -99.2% |
| Marc A. Aurand | $814 | $190 | -76.7% |
| Ryan D. Wilson | $1,593 | $137 | -91.4% |
| Atkinson Mills Sportsmens Club | $134 | $134 | 0% |
| Audrey Gay Rodgers | $9,336 | $113 | -98.8% |
| Anna D Mackneer | $2,206 | $104 | -95.3% |
| Anthony R. Peachey | $48,457 | $88 | -99.8% |
| Daryl J. Peachey | $1,161 | $0 | -100% |
| Jacob E. Byler | $17,222 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert E. Stayrook | $224 | $0 | -100% |
| Terry Henry | $5,330 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark S. Hill | $926 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel A. Bell | $1,219 | $0 | -100% |
| Floyd A. Ciccolini Jr. | $1,511 | $0 | -100% |
| Franklin J. Davidheiser | $5,028 | $0 | -100% |
| Garry J. Laub | $4,859 | $0 | -100% |
| Goss Farms | $11,041 | $0 | -100% |
| Joseph G. Laughlin | $1,100 | $0 | -100% |
| Joshua W. Besch | $365 | $0 | -100% |
| Matthew Q. Fisher | $448 | $0 | -100% |
| Shane A. Varner | $220 | $0 | -100% |
| Todd W. Bell | $1,219 | $0 | -100% |
| David L. Gearhart | $1,960 | $0 | -100% |
| David W. Keiser | $406 | $0 | -100% |
| Keith G. Ranck | $11,576 | $0 | -100% |
| Patti A. Miller | $1,226 | $0 | -100% |
| Valley View Farm | $1,952 | $0 | -100% |
| Amanda J. Fisher | $294 | $0 | -100% |
| Atkinson Mills, LLC | $4,814 | $0 | -100% |
| Joshua T. Stauffer | $421 | $0 | -100% |
| Matthew E. Yoder | $13,099 | $0 | -100% |
| Andrew C. Reed | $3,149 | $0 | -100% |
| Marlin J. Peachey | $1,636 | $0 | -100% |
| Wilbur G. White | $1,312 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $6,519,851 | $3,785,964 | -41.9% |
