Farms throughout cities in Door County received $3.5 million less in subsidies in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to the year before.
In 2021, 222 farmers in cities within Door County received a total of $3.5 million in 444 farm subsidies, a 50.1% decrease compared to 2020, when the total was $7.1 million in 846 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 Door County, Year Over Year
| Farmer | Total Received in 2020 | Total Received in 2021 | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brickner-Meikle Family Farms, LLC | $377,792 | $283,427 | -25% |
| S&S Cropping Enterprises | $198,734 | $258,976 | 30.3% |
| Evergreen Nursery Company, Inc. | $0 | $181,008 | — |
| Country View Farms, LLC | $337,573 | $161,154 | -52.3% |
| Gilbert Farms, Ltd. | $440,459 | $155,288 | -64.7% |
| Brey Cycle Farm, LLC | $548,425 | $125,302 | -77.2% |
| S&S Jerseyland Dairy, LLC | $1,419,603 | $121,548 | -91.4% |
| S&B Farms, LLC | $198,708 | $108,952 | -45.2% |
| Richard & Eric Olson, LLC | $114,652 | $102,549 | -10.6% |
| Engebose Farms, Inc. | $132,576 | $95,720 | -27.8% |
| B & B Dairy Farms, Inc. | $154,965 | $95,056 | -38.7% |
| Brian G. Laplant | $129,390 | $76,547 | -40.8% |
| Wallace Dairy Farm, LLC | $63,992 | $74,403 | 16.3% |
| Seaquist Orchards, LLC | $114,168 | $70,293 | -38.4% |
| Farm Service Agency/Commodity Credit Corporation | $0 | $68,919 | — |
| Edward G. Jeanquart | $107,379 | $67,686 | -37% |
| Uecker Lacrosse Farms, LLC | $92,547 | $65,047 | -29.7% |
| Lasee Family Farm, LLC | $78,379 | $64,691 | -17.5% |
| Baudhuin Farms, LLC | $139,227 | $63,110 | -54.7% |
| Maple Tree Dairy, LLC | $88,597 | $57,190 | -35.4% |
| Mike J. Massart | $66,878 | $51,765 | -22.6% |
| Michael Peter Polich | $76,376 | $49,635 | -35% |
| Wade B. Geisel | $59,564 | $49,400 | -17.1% |
| Charles E. Forsch | $64,261 | $45,439 | -29.3% |
| Leon A. Vogel | $47,840 | $40,729 | -14.9% |
| Michael A. Henschel | $61,450 | $40,406 | -34.2% |
| Bley Farms, LLC | $67,132 | $39,345 | -41.4% |
| Randall W. Halstead | $30,576 | $34,003 | 11.2% |
| Paul J Graf Farms, LLC | $24,869 | $28,553 | 14.8% |
| D&J Farms, LLC | $49,501 | $28,163 | -43.1% |
| Roger N. Kinnard | $34,829 | $26,989 | -22.5% |
| Tanck Family Dairy, LLC | $6,952 | $26,811 | 285.7% |
| Allen S. Wery | $32,760 | $25,087 | -23.4% |
| Lucas J. Long | $26,986 | $22,908 | -15.1% |
| Frank J. Lautenbach | $35,170 | $22,553 | -35.9% |
| Guy William Overbeck | $40,483 | $20,550 | -49.2% |
| Fellner Orchards, LLP | $0 | $20,203 | — |
| Defere Family Farms, LLC | $21,540 | $19,638 | -8.8% |
| Abraham J. Ploor | $34,162 | $18,713 | -45.2% |
| Kevin Wilke | $23,215 | $18,041 | -22.3% |
| Glenn M. Dart | $31,033 | $18,007 | -42% |
| Jeffrey Uecker | $23,987 | $17,665 | -26.4% |
| Scott Zuleger | $0 | $16,254 | — |
| Haberli Farms, Inc. | $24,692 | $15,903 | -35.6% |
| Sixel Farms, LLC | $41,030 | $15,548 | -62.1% |
| Laugh N Stock Farm, LLC | $13,450 | $14,899 | 10.8% |
| Patrick D. Olson | $24,383 | $14,635 | -40% |
| John G. Bagnall | $35,457 | $14,078 | -60.3% |
| Daniel R. Lenius | $9,142 | $12,278 | 34.3% |
| Ginger A. Clark | $35,606 | $11,823 | -66.8% |
| Meier Settlement Farm – D Meier | $13,609 | $11,729 | -13.8% |
| Quietside Acres, LLC | $20,815 | $11,529 | -44.6% |
| James C. Roder | $27,100 | $10,883 | -59.8% |
| Paul Bunyard, Inc. | $16,333 | $10,294 | -37% |
| Mark Gilbert | $21,664 | $9,776 | -54.9% |
| Devin R. Schmidt | $15,568 | $9,275 | -40.4% |
| William L Surbaugh Rev Trust | $31,988 | $8,875 | -72.3% |
| Michael L. Schley | $24,468 | $8,858 | -63.8% |
| Randy G. Weckler | $11,030 | $7,934 | -28.1% |
| Derek Joseph Schopf | $8,820 | $7,784 | -11.7% |
| Bruce A. Karsten | $12,089 | $7,644 | -36.8% |
| Tom Sawyer | $14,195 | $7,532 | -46.9% |
| Martin W & K Hilary Ford Revocable Trust | $0 | $7,157 | — |
| Mark S. Hasenjager | $12,022 | $6,958 | -42.1% |
| Marvin G Schinktgen & Charlene a Schinktgen Irrevo | $0 | $6,814 | — |
| Scott J. Jeanquart | $12,287 | $6,649 | -45.9% |
| William S. Marin | $18,010 | $6,588 | -63.4% |
| Gary J Birnschein | $12,121 | $6,449 | -46.8% |
| Tim M. Soukup | $14,675 | $6,443 | -56.1% |
| Mark D. Schartner | $11,122 | $6,282 | -43.5% |
| Loren K. Uecker | $7,335 | $6,092 | -16.9% |
| Thomas P. Lautenbach | $8,773 | $5,972 | -31.9% |
| Samuel Mueller | $7,153 | $5,916 | -17.3% |
| Donald C. Rudolph | $15,628 | $5,698 | -63.5% |
| Vistren Farms, LLC | $13,030 | $5,516 | -57.7% |
| Holly Louise Laplant | $3,425 | $5,512 | 60.9% |
| Wayne P. Bley | $9,886 | $5,355 | -45.8% |
| Bruce K. Hawkey | $14,238 | $4,834 | -66% |
| Ruth A. Peot | $7,778 | $4,761 | -38.8% |
| Russell S. Lenius | $7,383 | $4,720 | -36.1% |
| Keith V. Olson | $2,412 | $4,688 | 94.4% |
| Craig Demeuse | $5,624 | $4,623 | -17.8% |
| Mary J. Babler | $5,264 | $4,503 | -14.5% |
| Joseph Schmidt | $8,187 | $4,494 | -45.1% |
| Peter Hansen | $8,214 | $4,376 | -46.7% |
| Mark J. Feuerstein | $2,270 | $4,257 | 87.5% |
| Gary G. Grunwald | $11,621 | $4,255 | -63.4% |
| Gigstad Farm – Jan W Gigstad | $8,774 | $4,241 | -51.7% |
| Arnold Schartner | $7,541 | $4,152 | -44.9% |
| Jason Michael Staats | $11,349 | $4,120 | -63.7% |
| Sorens Valhalla Orchards, LLC | $7,530 | $4,023 | -46.6% |
| Robert C. Anderson | $0 | $3,985 | — |
| Gregg A. Viste | $9,096 | $3,984 | -56.2% |
| Ronald J Schlise | $1,894 | $3,954 | 108.8% |
| Robert E. Columb | $9,150 | $3,899 | -57.4% |
| Dennis R. Dietrich | $7,232 | $3,835 | -47% |
| Steven J. Pipkorn | $5,247 | $3,787 | -27.8% |
| Terrance R. Sorenson | $10,379 | $3,737 | -64% |
| Thomas H. Michelsen | $8,607 | $3,711 | -56.9% |
| Lon D. Rademacher Sr. | $12,061 | $3,583 | -70.3% |
| Cody Troy Rass | $1,697 | $3,552 | 109.3% |
| David J. Schartner | $26,412 | $3,549 | -86.6% |
| Gregory M. Ebel | $0 | $3,541 | — |
| Charles E. Stoeger | $11,026 | $3,522 | -68.1% |
| Sharon a Bennington Rev Living Trust | $14,335 | $3,499 | -75.6% |
| Daniel L. Lautenbach | $2,000 | $3,465 | 73.3% |
| Mark Allen Kerscher | $5,713 | $3,365 | -41.1% |
| The Kioseff Farm, Inc. | $19,404 | $3,194 | -83.5% |
| Lawrence J. Demeuse | $7,912 | $3,121 | -60.6% |
| Carmody Farms, LLC | $2,218 | $3,054 | 37.7% |
| Gerald J. Kroll Sr. | $5,876 | $2,916 | -50.4% |
| Ronald J. Sperber | $5,200 | $2,825 | -45.7% |
| Surbaugh and Son, Inc. | $9,900 | $2,808 | -71.6% |
| John E. Olson | $2,759 | $2,759 | 0% |
| Mark Euclide | $2,688 | $2,688 | 0% |
| Steve P. Lenius | $5,593 | $2,662 | -52.4% |
| Allan W. Mathison | $6,154 | $2,522 | -59% |
| Tyler D. Baudhuin | $4,643 | $2,420 | -47.9% |
| Sullys Produce, LLC | $38,241 | $2,304 | -94% |
| Richard A. Hannemann II | $4,168 | $2,286 | -45.2% |
| Paul W. Kiehnau | $3,819 | $2,282 | -40.2% |
| Dale A. Carlson | $2,152 | $2,152 | 0% |
| William F. Rice | $2,144 | $2,144 | 0% |
| Fred J. Malvitz | $8,130 | $2,039 | -74.9% |
| Hanson Family Trust | $1,972 | $1,972 | 0% |
| Kevin J Guilette | $0 | $1,890 | — |
| Nancy L. Hanson | $1,837 | $1,875 | 2.1% |
| Thomas L. Kay | $2,796 | $1,836 | -34.3% |
| Judith Olson | $800 | $1,827 | 128.4% |
| Brian T. Wanless | $3,120 | $1,774 | -43.1% |
| Vernon G. Graf | $1,860 | $1,760 | -5.4% |
| Roland Jorns | $5,105 | $1,752 | -65.7% |
| Fred R Pesch – F&S Pesch Family Trust | $0 | $1,742 | — |
| Jason J. Charles | $3,883 | $1,725 | -55.6% |
| Robert C. Kuehn | $0 | $1,671 | — |
| Haberli Farms & Heifers Cropping | $0 | $1,650 | — |
| Richard Euclide | $3,171 | $1,636 | -48.4% |
| James F. Kluth | $2,863 | $1,590 | -44.5% |
| James R. Marin | $1,579 | $1,579 | 0% |
| Jill Otto Gaertner | $1,530 | $1,530 | 0% |
| Thomas G. Gaertner | $1,530 | $1,530 | 0% |
| Daniel J Dantoin | $6,897 | $1,528 | -77.8% |
| Todd Delsart | $1,115 | $1,486 | 33.3% |
| Arthur J. Lopas | $2,694 | $1,435 | -46.7% |
| Sean P. Moore | $223 | $1,432 | 542.2% |
| Jesse J. Miller | $2,292 | $1,359 | -40.7% |
| Robert C. Krause | $0 | $1,353 | — |
| Carnel Farms, Inc. | $524 | $1,322 | 152.3% |
| Jacob a Bscherer | $0 | $1,312 | — |
| Jonathan F Hemb | $488 | $1,297 | 165.8% |
| Chad Ulberg | $1,256 | $1,256 | 0% |
| Gregory G. Griep | $857 | $1,251 | 46% |
| Thomas A. Daubner | $2,045 | $1,216 | -40.5% |
| Gary M & Karen J Guelette Irrevocable Trust | $0 | $1,199 | — |
| Low Valley Farms, Inc. | $2,367 | $1,195 | -49.5% |
| Christopher L. Vandertie | $13,910 | $1,122 | -91.9% |
| Sharon L. Landwehr | $13,730 | $1,107 | -91.9% |
| Thomas L. Wilson | $926 | $1,102 | 19% |
| Jeffrey M Wojciuk | $0 | $1,066 | — |
| Jerome Yunk | $969 | $969 | 0% |
| Randy M. Krueger | $968 | $968 | 0% |
| Daniel M. Dietrich | $1,429 | $961 | -32.8% |
| Roger Patza | $946 | $946 | 0% |
| Paul M. Keddell | $0 | $942 | — |
| Charles J. Massart Jr. | $921 | $921 | 0% |
| Kevin G. Jandrin | $0 | $908 | — |
| David G. Jones | $0 | $907 | — |
| Northeastern WI Antique Power Association | $0 | $884 | — |
| Gerald Kuehn | $1,787 | $872 | -51.2% |
| Rick D Wisnicky | $1,709 | $865 | -49.4% |
| Bill J. Charles | $686 | $855 | 24.6% |
| James R. Gordon | $821 | $821 | 0% |
| William J. Kroll | $360 | $816 | 126.7% |
| Geri Rider | $2,350 | $806 | -65.7% |
| Rademacher Farms, LLC | $2,693 | $771 | -71.4% |
| George Whitford | $0 | $736 | — |
| Scott Sperber | $1,510 | $732 | -51.5% |
| Maribeth R. Watson | $810 | $711 | -12.2% |
| Ervin Jadin Custodian | $687 | $687 | 0% |
| Fredrick Wilke | $1,047 | $685 | -34.6% |
| Cory Thayse | $684 | $684 | 0% |
| Paul a Bscherer | $0 | $678 | — |
| Dale D. Brauer | $650 | $650 | 0% |
| Marvin G Schinktgen | $0 | $633 | — |
| Wayne Malvitz | $630 | $630 | 0% |
| Dean A. Gordon | $855 | $580 | -32.2% |
| Peter J. Andre | $484 | $484 | 0% |
| Patricia M. Columb | $991 | $471 | -52.5% |
| Christopher J. Gilbertson | $470 | $470 | 0% |
| Jodi L. Rass | $456 | $456 | 0% |
| Holly A. Freund | $434 | $434 | 0% |
| Peter J. Gerl | $1,028 | $399 | -61.2% |
| Christopher J. Rogalski | $0 | $388 | — |
| George W Poh – George W & Kim M Poh TRST | $0 | $388 | — |
| Dale R. Weckler | $0 | $380 | — |
| Deborah J. Hart | $379 | $379 | 0% |
| William J. Hart | $379 | $379 | 0% |
| Ed Schantz | $120 | $330 | 175% |
| Marsha Nelson | $313 | $313 | 0% |
| Patrick R. Donley | $296 | $296 | 0% |
| Mitchell L. Krueger | $275 | $275 | 0% |
| Lawrence D. Alexander | $270 | $270 | 0% |
| Terry J. Miller | $665 | $265 | -60.2% |
| Bruce J. Nelson | $0 | $215 | — |
| Anita Wagner | $0 | $208 | — |
| Grasse James & Iva Revocable Trust | $0 | $206 | — |
| Willard A. Schleicher | $171 | $171 | 0% |
| Audrey A. Hasenjager | $171 | $171 | 0% |
| Ronald P. Kading | $108 | $144 | 33.3% |
| Laray F Naese | $0 | $136 | — |
| Trevor J. Kinnard | $17,330 | $88 | -99.5% |
| Gerald J. Schley | $316 | $85 | -73.1% |
| Paul Sorenson | $0 | $81 | — |
| Elton E. Londo | $122 | $76 | -37.7% |
| Arvid M. Anderson | $262 | $75 | -71.4% |
| Paula Jean Roberts | $135 | $54 | -60% |
| Paul C. Wallace | $1,390 | $50 | -96.4% |
| Ervin L. Cornette | $141 | $40 | -71.6% |
| Ralph D Rabach | $366 | $25 | -93.2% |
| John Kroll | $769 | $15 | -98% |
| Erwin L. Smejkal | $363 | $3 | -99.2% |
| Daniel Hasenjager | $55 | $1 | -98.2% |
| Adam W. Bley | $1,705 | $0 | -100% |
| Crystal Z. Barnard | $573 | $0 | -100% |
| Darrel Lautenbach | $5,530 | $0 | -100% |
| Dianne Palmer | $27 | $0 | -100% |
| Donna Carmody | $1,650 | $0 | -100% |
| James Barnard | $19,003 | $0 | -100% |
| Joseph V Lowery Trust | $4,409 | $0 | -100% |
| Karen Stemper | $1,767 | $0 | -100% |
| Luke T. Lautenbach | $5,530 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael R. Kroll | $772 | $0 | -100% |
| Mildred Lowery Trust | $4,409 | $0 | -100% |
| Wayne L. Lautenbach | $4,567 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel and Cynthia a Schaulis Rev | $407 | $0 | -100% |
| Grasse James & Iva Revocable Trus | $714 | $0 | -100% |
| Kenneth S. Conrad | $807 | $0 | -100% |
| Martin W & K Hilary Ford Revocabl | $7,769 | $0 | -100% |
| Gary M & Karen J Guelette Irrevoc | $1,202 | $0 | -100% |
| John D. Mueller | $4,100 | $0 | -100% |
| Mary Ann Conard | $1,219 | $0 | -100% |
| Reginald H. Vandertie | $447 | $0 | -100% |
| Donald J Lamps | $65 | $0 | -100% |
| Gary Lamps | $65 | $0 | -100% |
| Jane D. Yonke | $930 | $0 | -100% |
| Craig R. Neubauer | $841 | $0 | -100% |
| CVF Maple, LLC | $1,047 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel C. McCluskey Jr. | $16,095 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel L. Barnard | $3,755 | $0 | -100% |
| Daniel W. Viste | $362 | $0 | -100% |
| Darrin Day | $270 | $0 | -100% |
| Dawn B. Dietrich | $641 | $0 | -100% |
| Edward Stoeger | $874 | $0 | -100% |
| Farm Service Agency/Commodity CRE | $60,341 | $0 | -100% |
| Fred R. Pesch | $1,497 | $0 | -100% |
| George W. Poh | $388 | $0 | -100% |
| Harvey Destree | $1,875 | $0 | -100% |
| James G. Englebert | $144 | $0 | -100% |
| James Halstead Jr. | $187 | $0 | -100% |
| Jennifer L Kacmarynski | $388 | $0 | -100% |
| Leland R. Babler | $5,139 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark L. Tlachac | $953 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark M. Henschel | $10,829 | $0 | -100% |
| Mark Stephenson | $365 | $0 | -100% |
| Marvin G Schinktgen & Charlene a | $4,058 | $0 | -100% |
| Michael J. Wiltz | $164 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert Bordeau | $5,830 | $0 | -100% |
| Robert D. Kurtz | $515 | $0 | -100% |
| Robertson Orchards of Door County | $11,026 | $0 | -100% |
| Robin Zahran | $16,395 | $0 | -100% |
| Roger J. Anderson | $8,450 | $0 | -100% |
| Roseanne M. Jandrin | $294 | $0 | -100% |
| Suzanne Warwick | $795 | $0 | -100% |
| Tanner Joseph Schmidt | $4,016 | $0 | -100% |
| Wood Orchard, LLC | $204,646 | $0 | -100% |
| Total subsidies | $7,069,659 | $3,529,808 | -50.1% |
