Farms throughout cities in Geary County received $3.7 million less in subsidies in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to the year before.
In 2021, 230 farmers in cities within Geary County received a total of $1.8 million in 476 farm subsidies, a 67.5% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $5.5 million in 861 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 Geary County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strauss Farms, Inc. | $379,150 | $145,580 | -61.6% |
| Double KS Farms, Inc. | $385,451 | $114,393 | -70.3% |
| Dibben Land & Cattle, Inc. | $178,702 | $94,138 | -47.3% |
| Baer Bros | $169,306 | $67,715 | -60% |
| Phillip D. Goodyear | $334,637 | $57,098 | -82.9% |
| Kramer Bros | $203,338 | $49,310 | -75.7% |
| Rodney W. Gfeller | $132,566 | $45,906 | -65.4% |
| George E Poland Trust | $148,755 | $42,427 | -71.5% |
| Michael W. Gfeller | $118,087 | $39,951 | -66.2% |
| Hildebrand Farms, Inc. | $180,199 | $38,008 | -78.9% |
| Kenneth E Geist Revocable Trust | $116,633 | $37,538 | -67.8% |
| Woydziak Farms, LLC | $60,726 | $36,744 | -39.5% |
| TJ Erichsen, LLC | $138,030 | $35,527 | -74.3% |
| John a and Mary a Poland Trust | $120,253 | $33,650 | -72% |
| Poland Brothers, LLC | $120,114 | $32,233 | -73.2% |
| Brandon & Donald, Inc. | $58,687 | $25,310 | -56.9% |
| Frederick L Altwegg Revocable Trust | $31,223 | $24,461 | -21.7% |
| Jason W. Swenson | $50,465 | $24,052 | -52.3% |
| Stephen P. Zumbrunn | $63,999 | $23,737 | -62.9% |
| Samuel R Jahnke & Sons, Inc. | $63,743 | $23,089 | -63.8% |
| Richard L Roeser Rev Trust | $98,228 | $22,925 | -76.7% |
| Steve C. Carr | $90,388 | $21,566 | -76.1% |
| Ronald W. Gfeller | $47,183 | $20,480 | -56.6% |
| Harlan Bitterlin | $80,680 | $19,620 | -75.7% |
| Poland Farms, Inc. | $104,498 | $19,607 | -81.2% |
| Munson Angus Farms, LLC | $55,721 | $19,385 | -65.2% |
| Eickholt Family Farms, Inc. | $71,551 | $18,395 | -74.3% |
| Daniel Clinton Anderes | $38,390 | $16,620 | -56.7% |
| Noreen a Altwegg Revocable Trust | $12,123 | $15,250 | 25.8% |
| Jane – & Douglas Roether Trust | $1,591 | $14,878 | 835.1% |
| Wayne Gfeller | $35,501 | $14,587 | -58.9% |
| Kenneth E. Gfeller | $96,790 | $14,537 | -85% |
| Junghans Farms Lc | $14,020 | $14,304 | 2% |
| Richard J Kueker Self Directed Ira | $32,299 | $14,247 | -55.9% |
| Craig N. Dibben | $31,094 | $14,117 | -54.6% |
| Jack L. Swenson | $37,079 | $13,602 | -63.3% |
| Patrick A. Beavers | $56,737 | $13,465 | -76.3% |
| Erle C. Bergstrom | $14,025 | $12,534 | -10.6% |
| Janice L. Erichsen | $64,591 | $12,135 | -81.2% |
| Thomas D. McDowell | $12,836 | $11,988 | -6.6% |
| Mark H. Janke | $48,643 | $11,798 | -75.7% |
| Beavers Family Farm Partnership | $0 | $11,550 | — |
| John D & Susan I Moyer Trust | $41,551 | $11,465 | -72.4% |
| Cynthia A. Brown | $83,361 | $11,429 | -86.3% |
| Dennis E. Gfeller | $29,916 | $11,027 | -63.1% |
| Richard L. Gustafson | $46,832 | $10,006 | -78.6% |
| Richard Gfeller | $24,408 | $9,585 | -60.7% |
| Charles E Munson Trust | $8,317 | $9,194 | 10.5% |
| Kenneth P Smith Rev Trustee | $12,167 | $8,777 | -27.9% |
| Clark’s Creek, LLC | $27,300 | $8,515 | -68.8% |
| Wayne W. Erichsen | $25,236 | $8,499 | -66.3% |
| Gary Gary & Joy Shandy Trust Shandy | $29,218 | $8,360 | -71.4% |
| Jorja L Poppe Trust | $13,244 | $8,137 | -38.6% |
| Eunice L Kelley Irrev Trust | $14,879 | $7,893 | -47% |
| Jorgan-Jorgan W Beck & Holly T Beck Rev W Beck | $22,923 | $7,654 | -66.6% |
| John H & Ruth Anne Carlson Trustee Uad 8/5/03 | $0 | $7,391 | — |
| J & L Farm, LLC | $0 | $7,214 | — |
| Teresa Lea Douthit | $24,320 | $7,177 | -70.5% |
| David Brookhouser | $22,038 | $7,043 | -68% |
| Gustaf Thomas Gustafson | $25,408 | $6,902 | -72.8% |
| Kramer Land, LLC | $6,884 | $6,884 | 0% |
| Marjorie the Marjorie H Wahle Trust Wahle | $20,210 | $6,783 | -66.4% |
| Wayne A. Adams | $28,323 | $6,417 | -77.3% |
| Galen P. Thyfault | $5,963 | $5,963 | 0% |
| Robert G Haynes, DVM | $5,480 | $5,860 | 6.9% |
| Beth E Hurst Revocable Trust | $5,689 | $5,784 | 1.7% |
| Virginia R Gfeller Rev Trust | $5,333 | $5,771 | 8.2% |
| Madelyn C Brown Rev LVG Trustee | $6,222 | $5,752 | -7.6% |
| John E. Gustafson | $44,952 | $5,558 | -87.6% |
| Harold E JR and Susan L Erichsen Rev Trust | $5,563 | $5,342 | -4% |
| Deerhorn Ranch, LLC | $24,596 | $5,164 | -79% |
| Della L. Rowley | $0 | $5,032 | — |
| Phillip C. Boller | $27,029 | $5,028 | -81.4% |
| Robert C Munson – Robert C Munson Rev Trust | $18,304 | $4,891 | -73.3% |
| Fred C & Helen L Germann IRR Trust FBO Lisa Germann Williams | $19,444 | $4,861 | -75% |
| Fred C & Helen L Germann IRR Trust FBO Deborah Germann Taylo | $19,536 | $4,825 | -75.3% |
| Isaac Carr | $0 | $4,730 | — |
| Fawcett Family Farms, Inc. | $16,307 | $4,688 | -71.3% |
| Elaine D. Harder | $0 | $4,510 | — |
| Merle M and Betty a Ascher Living Trust | $23,367 | $4,443 | -81% |
| Amthauer Farms, LLC | $12,086 | $4,397 | -63.6% |
| Clinton E. Kramer | $14,820 | $4,377 | -70.5% |
| Philip D. Janke | $18,430 | $4,291 | -76.7% |
| Smith Family Farm, LLC | $14,429 | $4,273 | -70.4% |
| Sutter Living Trust | $6,468 | $4,186 | -35.3% |
| Robert K. Miller Jr. | $7,004 | $4,154 | -40.7% |
| Alva Hartman | $18,483 | $4,144 | -77.6% |
| Dennis Boller | $14,400 | $4,069 | -71.7% |
| Mary B and Craig J Altenhofen Charitable Remainder Unitrust | $0 | $4,066 | — |
| Ray Allaman | $22,504 | $4,017 | -82.1% |
| Jay E. Brown | $18,687 | $3,960 | -78.8% |
| Lois N Longhofer Rev Trust | $5,708 | $3,493 | -38.8% |
| Patricia a Silovsky | $2,618 | $3,448 | 31.7% |
| Shayla L. Lowry | $23,653 | $3,446 | -85.4% |
| Michael C Harris Revocable Living Trust | $3,708 | $3,079 | -17% |
| Norman R Galle Trust No 1 | $12,887 | $2,934 | -77.2% |
| Michael E. Strauss | $13,382 | $2,918 | -78.2% |
| James James and Shirley Ferguson Rev L Ferguson | $10,909 | $2,915 | -73.3% |
| Renetta Parbs | $0 | $2,860 | — |
| Lois M. Moon | $10,357 | $2,810 | -72.9% |
| Richard L. Dudley | $19,390 | $2,772 | -85.7% |
| Gordon a Zoschke and Joan E Zoschke Revocable Trust | $2,690 | $2,690 | 0% |
| James F. Moloney | $4,945 | $2,556 | -48.3% |
| John R. Small | $2,510 | $2,510 | 0% |
| Anita McLean | $5,423 | $2,377 | -56.2% |
| Broken Bar D Farm & Ranch, Inc. | $5,027 | $2,333 | -53.6% |
| Wayne Pearson | $18,327 | $2,263 | -87.7% |
| Eric D. Eickholt | $9,928 | $2,261 | -77.2% |
| The Pauline M Sharp Self Directed Trad Ira | $4,200 | $2,256 | -46.3% |
| Gary L. Hauptli | $4,984 | $2,221 | -55.4% |
| John M. Ehlers | $6,169 | $2,213 | -64.1% |
| Hazel I. Patterson | $2,157 | $2,157 | 0% |
| Larry E Kramer Rev Intervivos Trust | $8,590 | $2,142 | -75.1% |
| Byron Johnson | $1,841 | $2,134 | 15.9% |
| Andrew Andrew & Betty Ziegler Fam Trustee – Rick Ziegler | $3,745 | $2,090 | -44.2% |
| John C. Oesterreich | $7,041 | $2,001 | -71.6% |
| Kansas Falls Investments, LLC | $1,974 | $1,974 | 0% |
| Michael J. Backhus | $10,905 | $1,973 | -81.9% |
| Gene N. Parrish | $2,502 | $1,972 | -21.2% |
| Daniel P. Boller | $4,699 | $1,942 | -58.7% |
| Catherine E. Hollis | $1,932 | $1,932 | 0% |
| Paula Dinkel | $4,247 | $1,893 | -55.4% |
| Eldon L Hoover and Nelda M Hoover Rev Trustee | $5,749 | $1,738 | -69.8% |
| Michaela Maree Gibbs | $9,718 | $1,690 | -82.6% |
| Kevin Ascher | $5,619 | $1,685 | -70% |
| Allen J. Dinkel | $3,186 | $1,625 | -49% |
| Dale Evans | $5,471 | $1,560 | -71.5% |
| Justin M. Gfeller | $6,279 | $1,537 | -75.5% |
| Sandra Ifland | $1,504 | $1,524 | 1.3% |
| Karen Marie Ray Rev Trust | $13,220 | $1,510 | -88.6% |
| Eric Adams | $2,748 | $1,484 | -46% |
| Boulware Grain, Inc. | $3,711 | $1,440 | -61.2% |
| Hudelson Manley Farms, LLC | $2,991 | $1,432 | -52.1% |
| Janice A. Carlton | $4,091 | $1,424 | -65.2% |
| Diana J. Clark | $2,086 | $1,403 | -32.7% |
| LBD Properties, Inc. | $2,986 | $1,397 | -53.2% |
| Kathryn Depew | $2,497 | $1,395 | -44.1% |
| Earnestine C Schmutz Revocable Trust | $2,796 | $1,363 | -51.3% |
| Michael W. Steinfort | $5,602 | $1,328 | -76.3% |
| Madeline Geigle Estate | $1,452 | $1,327 | -8.6% |
| Luke Erichsen | $1,491 | $1,308 | -12.3% |
| Heirs M T Moran Estate | $6,696 | $1,307 | -80.5% |
| Paul F Heidel Rev Inter Vivos Trust | $3,399 | $1,274 | -62.5% |
| Gayle A. Stallcup | $6,483 | $1,230 | -81% |
| Tim Ellis | $5,523 | $1,102 | -80% |
| Kevin Foerschler | $1,013 | $1,013 | 0% |
| Wendell A. Wright | $2,195 | $999 | -54.5% |
| Barbara D. Bish | $1,760 | $998 | -43.3% |
| Charles W and Virginia R Gfeller Rev Trust | $11,322 | $988 | -91.3% |
| Steven F. Erichsen | $977 | $977 | 0% |
| Gustafson Fam Tr | $0 | $969 | — |
| Randy J Pettera | $11,872 | $964 | -91.9% |
| Robert E. Adams | $3,177 | $912 | -71.3% |
| John A. Kramer | $2,095 | $906 | -56.8% |
| Ralph W and Marjorie Davis Rev Trust | $0 | $879 | — |
| Marilyn K. Hutson | $1,756 | $855 | -51.3% |
| Keith W. Ascher | $5,445 | $845 | -84.5% |
| Jay D. Sherwood | $2,629 | $818 | -68.9% |
| James W Jacobs Trust | $407 | $806 | 98% |
| Humboldt Creek Station, LLC | $1,739 | $773 | -55.5% |
| Leland & Sharon Sharpe Trust | $1,533 | $754 | -50.8% |
| Margaret E. Stewart | $1,514 | $713 | -52.9% |
| Donald S. Boyer | $701 | $701 | 0% |
| Brad Purdue | $1,429 | $699 | -51.1% |
| Phyllis E. Britt | $1,423 | $688 | -51.7% |
| 4ward Farms, LLC | $1,410 | $677 | -52% |
| Shelbi M. Gustafson | $15,675 | $677 | -95.7% |
| Dennis L. Lilly | $6,735 | $660 | -90.2% |
| Kenneth R. Hoff | $2,592 | $631 | -75.7% |
| Kershner Cattle, Inc. | $1,518 | $630 | -58.5% |
| Karen G. Carr | $656 | $602 | -8.2% |
| Marcena Keating | $524 | $585 | 11.6% |
| Joseph A. Smith | $3,883 | $538 | -86.1% |
| Mary Mary Devin Rev Trust E Devin | $0 | $533 | — |
| Kay Weller Mcdonald & Raymond Mcdonald Liv Fam Trustee | $1,034 | $524 | -49.3% |
| YHB Ranch, LLC | $0 | $508 | — |
| Debra S. Fehlman | $3,404 | $487 | -85.7% |
| Mark D. Roeser | $3,107 | $487 | -84.3% |
| Ruth B Gfeller Rev Trust | $3,055 | $481 | -84.3% |
| William R. Potter II | $236 | $450 | 90.7% |
| Teresa MacY | $1,108 | $437 | -60.6% |
| Jim Ray | $704 | $437 | -37.9% |
| Cynthia Carlyon | $607 | $387 | -36.2% |
| John Stephen Burke | $421 | $382 | -9.3% |
| Gerald L. Gerloff | $853 | $375 | -56% |
| Robert Logan Gustafson | $1,954 | $363 | -81.4% |
| Jerod P. Beavers | $4,573 | $362 | -92.1% |
| Bradley R. Johnson | $0 | $361 | — |
| Kenneth E Johnston Irrev Trust | $1,085 | $351 | -67.6% |
| Donald-Donald Eickholt and Marie-Anne Eickholt Trust | $851 | $346 | -59.3% |
| Janette Vogelsang | $0 | $341 | — |
| Kevin T. Heiman | $3,331 | $339 | -89.8% |
| Skiddy Creek Farms, LLC | $9,699 | $332 | -96.6% |
| Curtis Kershner | $757 | $314 | -58.5% |
| Sandra K. Kershner | $757 | $314 | -58.5% |
| Richard Newlon | $465 | $306 | -34.2% |
| Nellie K. Smith | $666 | $295 | -55.7% |
| Marilyn J. Newlon | $0 | $279 | — |
| Shirley R. Laven | $563 | $276 | -51% |
| Geary Grain -Junction City KS, Inc. | $385 | $275 | -28.6% |
| Delois Miller Irby | $233 | $247 | 6% |
| Dominik A. Bucher | $0 | $234 | — |
| Dennis Hoff | $908 | $226 | -75.1% |
| Roger L. Bennett | $597 | $225 | -62.3% |
| John S. Carlyon | $528 | $204 | -61.4% |
| Bradley Allen Adams | $3,621 | $194 | -94.6% |
| Williams ARCH Farm, LLC | $592 | $193 | -67.4% |
| Gary W. Schmalzried | $391 | $189 | -51.7% |
| Connie J Poland Trust | $1,982 | $163 | -91.8% |
| Keith-Keith Klaty Trust Dated Aug 12, 96 | $0 | $159 | — |
| Robin Hendershot Clark | $524 | $153 | -70.8% |
| Douglas R. Shandy | $0 | $122 | — |
| Eldon W. Steinfort | $0 | $102 | — |
| Glen W. Blanken | $284 | $102 | -64.1% |
| Leona-Leona E Garrison Living Trust E Garrison | $261 | $101 | -61.3% |
| R Unruh Acres, Inc. | $609 | $90 | -85.2% |
| Jason William Haslouer | $1,056 | $84 | -92% |
| James Witt | $168 | $81 | -51.8% |
| Julie A. Ross | $274 | $68 | -75.2% |
| Fiest Farms, LLC | $0 | $65 | — |
| Dirk Weiss | $185 | $61 | -67% |
| David Smith | $158 | $54 | -65.8% |
| Kaitlyn R. Butler | $465 | $48 | -89.7% |
| Dale R. Small | $0 | $43 | — |
| Terry E. Ascher | $176 | $43 | -75.6% |
| Clint D. Junghans | $39 | $39 | 0% |
| Deborah Junghans-Johns | $0 | $37 | — |
| Roger L. Unruh | $70 | $29 | -58.6% |
| Shelly R. Smith | $231 | $27 | -88.3% |
| Kacey M. Butler | $413 | $24 | -94.2% |
| Anthony G Nardella and Carol S Nardella Revocable Intervivos | $158 | $0 | -100% |
| Anwar K. Khoury | $3,808 | $0 | -100% |
| Audrey B. Magana | $2,668 | $0 | -100% |
| Bruce E. Rose | $21 | $0 | -100% |
| Chris L. Stewart | $251 | $0 | -100% |
| Christina G. Schmalzried | $652 | $0 | -100% |
| Constance a Galle Trust 1 | $3,221 | $0 | -100% |
| Craig J. Altenhofen | $4,064 | $0 | -100% |
| D & E Holdings, LLC | $805 | $0 | -100% |
| Douglas Roether | $10,483 | $0 | -100% |
| Geoffrey Houser | $7 | $0 | -100% |
| John H and Ruth Anne Carlson Revocable Trust | $29,533 | $0 | -100% |
| Lois M. Nelson | $1,155 | $0 | -100% |
| Lucile Peck | $532 | $0 | -100% |
| Madeline Geigle | $2,619 | $0 | -100% |
| Norma Mailen | $976 | $0 | -100% |
| Patricia A. Regelman | $261 | $0 | -100% |
| Richard H. Howard | $554 | $0 | -100% |
| Roberta Horner | $704 | $0 | -100% |
| Sheryl L Bennett Irrev Trust | $192 | $0 | -100% |
| Steven Smrcka | $894 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas D. Slick | $2,719 | $0 | -100% |
| Thomas J. Regelman | $261 | $0 | -100% |
| Charles T. Mace | $2,860 | $0 | -100% |
| Chase Family Trust | $480 | $0 | -100% |
| Chase Ranch Lp | $87 | $0 | -100% |
| Jeffrey J. Young | $197 | $0 | -100% |
| Terry D. Clement | $8,040 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $5,518,971 | $1,794,599 | -67.5% |
