Farms in Piscataquis County received $415,598 in taxpayer-funded subsidies in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Of the 118 subsidies provided, the largest was for Lander & Son’s, Inc., which received $50,875 for the claim of “Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program”.
The smallest subsidy provided to a Piscataquis County farmer was $9 to Windy Knoll Farm, Inc..
There were 21 more subsidies than the year before, and the total value of the subsidies fell by $72,025.
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.
Subsidies Received by Piscataquis County Code Farmers in 2021
| Farmer | $ Received | Reason for Subsidy | Total Received in Subsidies by Farmer ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lander & Son’s, Inc. | $50,875 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Double H Contracting, Inc. | $50,875 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Hill and Sons Trucking, Inc. | $33,971 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $35,971 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $33,345 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $34,877 |
| Benjamin G. Cookson | $14,273 | Emergency Conservation Program Cost Share | $18,417 |
| Sean F. O’Donnell | $13,815 | Emergency Conservation Program Cost Share | $17,659 |
| Christopher Mckenzie | $10,032 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $12,032 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $8,844 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $7,950 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| Jere L. Starbird | $7,800 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $9,800 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $6,826 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $6,784 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| Cleaves Farms, LLC | $6,749 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $6,749 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $6,326 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $5,432 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $5,348 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $5,327 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $4,911 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $4,558 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| Joel Huff | $3,317 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Page Farms | $3,231 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $4,820 |
| Abbey Bray | $3,146 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $3,146 |
| Alan J. Burnes | $3,129 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $3,129 |
| Widdershins, LLC | $3,075 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $4,061 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $3,045 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Joel Huff | $2,981 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Nubia Borowski | $2,862 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $2,862 |
| Sean F. O’Donnell | $2,744 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $17,659 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $2,737 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $2,690 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Joel Huff | $2,560 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Joel Huff | $2,544 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $2,417 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Joel Huff | $2,372 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $2,350 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $2,336 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $2,178 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $2,117 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $71,139 |
| Benjamin G. Cookson | $2,110 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $18,417 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $2,076 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $2,063 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Joel Huff | $2,037 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $2,035 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| Benjamin G. Cookson | $2,034 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $18,417 |
| Joel Huff | $2,006 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Christopher Mckenzie | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $12,032 |
| Hill and Sons Trucking, Inc. | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $35,971 |
| Lander & Son’s, Inc. | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Double H Contracting, Inc. | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Jere L. Starbird | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $9,800 |
| Joel Huff | $1,998 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $1,924 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $1,870 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Joel Huff | $1,842 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $1,841 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $1,834 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| John F. Johnston | $1,714 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $1,714 |
| Joel Huff | $1,709 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $1,691 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $1,652 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $1,626 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $1,620 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Page Farms | $1,589 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $4,820 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $1,569 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $1,522 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $25,238 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $1,519 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $1,495 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $71,139 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $1,493 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $1,448 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $71,139 |
| Leigh A. Wiley | $1,431 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $1,431 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $1,386 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $1,109 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $997 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Widdershins, LLC | $986 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $4,061 |
| Joel Huff | $914 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $25,579 |
| Sean F. O’Donnell | $869 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $17,659 |
| Gilman Corner Agent, Inc. | $869 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $1,013 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $856 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $851 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $793 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $701 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $694 | Agriculture Risk Program – Individual Coverage | $34,877 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $681 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $671 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $668 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $619 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $616 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $571 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Joel Huff | $570 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,579 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $523 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $515 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $25,238 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $482 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $25,238 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $462 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $455 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $20,536 |
| Joel Huff | $442 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $25,579 |
| David Pratt | $411 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $750 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $372 | Agriculture Risk Program – Individual Coverage | $34,877 |
| David Pratt | $339 | Livestock Forage Disaster Program | $750 |
| Winston Sinclair | $326 | Agriculture Risk Program – Individual Coverage | $454 |
| Sean F. O’Donnell | $231 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $17,659 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $229 | Agriculture Risk Program – Individual Coverage | $34,877 |
| Joel Huff | $219 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $25,579 |
| ELK Mountain Farm | $218 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $71,139 |
| Alice Begin | $207 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $207 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $190 | Dairy Margin Coverage Program | $8,078 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $156 | Agriculture Risk Program – Individual Coverage | $34,877 |
| Gilman Corner Agent, Inc. | $144 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $1,013 |
| Winston Sinclair | $128 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $454 |
| Thomas Cyr | $102 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $102 |
| Bonny Small | $84 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $84 |
| Richard G. Thomas | $77 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $8,078 |
| Joel Huff | $70 | Agriculture Risk Program – Individual Coverage | $25,579 |
| Lawrence Trafton | $54 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $20,536 |
| Daniel O. Hurd Jr. | $44 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $25,238 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $38 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $34,877 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $19 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $34,877 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $15 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $34,877 |
| Windy Knoll Farm, Inc. | $9 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $34,877 |
