Farms in Bennington County received $39,356 in taxpayer-funded subsidies in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Of the 24 subsidies provided, the largest was for David Hagelberg, which received $23,744 for the claim of “Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program”.
The smallest subsidy provided to a Bennington County farmer was $15 to Richard Robinson.
There were seven fewer subsidies than the year before, and the total value of the subsidies fell by $39,347.
Kimberly Amadeo of The Balance said farmer subsidies “help high-income corporations, not poor rural farmers. Most of the money goes toward large agribusinesses.”
USDA data analyzed by the Cato Institute found that “farmers (on net) have derived almost 40% of their income directly from the U.S. government” in recent years.
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 | $ Received | Reason for Subsidy | Total Received in Subsidies by Farmer ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Hagelberg | $23,744 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $25,744 |
| Jeffrey O Nyweide | $2,206 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $4,666 |
| Jeffrey O Nyweide | $2,201 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $4,666 |
| David Hagelberg | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $25,744 |
| Estate of Edwin J Chernosky | $1,736 | Trade Mitigation Program/Market Facilitation Program 2019 – Non-Specialty Crops Program | $4,022 |
| Estate of Edwin J Chernosky | $1,073 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $4,022 |
| Richard Robinson | $659 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Richard Robinson | $592 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Richard Robinson | $508 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Richard Robinson | $505 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Estate of Edwin J Chernosky | $492 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $4,022 |
| Richard Robinson | $471 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Estate of Edwin J Chernosky | $408 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $4,022 |
| Richard Robinson | $405 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Richard Robinson | $398 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Richard Robinson | $397 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Meadow View Farm, LLC | $394 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $394 |
| Richard Robinson | $339 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Estate of Edwin J Chernosky | $313 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $4,022 |
| Jeffrey O Nyweide | $259 | Conservation Reserve Program Payment – Annual Rental | $4,666 |
| Richard Robinson | $113 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Richard Robinson | $70 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $4,472 |
| Rita J. Wilson | $58 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $58 |
| Richard Robinson | $15 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $4,472 |
