Farms in Unicoi County received $691,798 in taxpayer-funded subsidies in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Of the 33 subsidies provided, the largest was for Scott Strawberry & Tomato Farms, Inc., which received $490,482 for the claim of “Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act”.
The smallest subsidy provided to a Unicoi County farmer was $7 to Stana M. Donnelly.
There were 37 fewer subsidies than the year before, and the total value of the subsidies rose by $523,692.
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 ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Strawberry & Tomato Farms, Inc. | $490,482 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $490,482 |
| David Byrd JR Logging | $50,875 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Ray David Byrd | $50,875 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Charles Adam Byrd | $26,681 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $28,681 |
| Edwin Dwayne Cantrell | $24,881 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $26,881 |
| William L. Runion | $11,960 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $11,960 |
| Scott Unaka Mountain Blueberries, LLC | $9,518 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $9,518 |
| Neil Hensley | $5,035 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $5,035 |
| Matthew J. Gilbert | $2,468 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Continuation of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act | $2,468 |
| Darrell Woods | $2,453 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $2,453 |
| Edwin Dwayne Cantrell | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $26,881 |
| Charles Adam Byrd | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $28,681 |
| David Byrd JR Logging | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Ray David Byrd | $2,000 | Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program | $52,875 |
| Todd Love | $1,317 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $1,317 |
| Robert B. Esser | $931 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $931 |
| Ernest Grady Hilemon | $904 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $904 |
| Donald L. Simerly | $835 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $835 |
| Clesta Hilemon | $768 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $768 |
| Clarence Bailey | $688 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $688 |
| Larry Hill | $571 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $571 |
| Stana M. Donnelly | $428 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $435 |
| Joshua H. Davis | $380 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $380 |
| Roger Dale Willis | $368 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $368 |
| Steve C. Wilson | $322 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $322 |
| Douglas R. Bowman | $255 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $255 |
| Troy L. Clark | $242 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $242 |
| Jason Smith | $155 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $155 |
| Donald McGaughey | $154 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $154 |
| Theodore Morrow | $128 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $128 |
| Howard Buchanan | $107 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Livestock and Poultry | $107 |
| Paul Pellegrino | $10 | Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 – Targeted Assistance for Specific Commodities | $10 |
| Stana M. Donnelly | $7 | Price Loss Coverage Program | $435 |
