Ohio Valley Times

Farms in Pleasants County received $13,054 in taxpayer-funded subsidies in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Of the eight subsidies provided, the largest was for Tim J. Malone, which received $4,996 for the claim of "Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry".

The smallest subsidy provided to a Pleasants County farmer was $235 to James E. Riggs.

There were 22 fewer subsidies than the year before, and the total value of the subsidies fell by $72,018.

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 ($)
Tim J. Malone	$4,996	Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry	$4,996
Stephen Westbrook	$3,553	Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry	$3,553
Eric W. Cunningham	$1,785	Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry	$1,785
Gregory Owen Davis	$1,101	Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry	$1,101
Sheryl A. Byrd	$585	Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry	$585
David C. Sweeney	$502	Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry	$502
Matthew Burkhammer	$297	Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry	$297
James E. Riggs	$235	Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 3 - Livestock and Poultry	$235