Identifying Congress Members Who Get Farm Subsidies

Sorting out the details of USDA’s farm subsidy data and Congressional disclosure forms is a difficult process. Records don’t always match up; details appear one place but not another. And USDA, taking advantage of a change in the law, now withholds previously available information on the names of individuals who have ownership interests in farms receiving federal payments. EWG took the time to sort it all out, as much as possible. Here’s what we found:

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.)
Aderholt’s wife, Caroline, is part of the ownership of McDonald Farms, which received $3,059,878 in federal farm subsidies in 1995-2009. She also received $338 directly from USDA in 2009. There is a discrepancy in the USDA records on the ownership of McDonald Farms – in Limestone County, Ala., Caroline Aderholt is not listed as a partner. But in Madison County, Ala., she is listed as a 25 percent partner in Beaver Dam Farms, which in turn is a 25 percent owner of McDonald Farms. This ownership structure existed from 2001 to 2008. In the 2009 ownership structure there is no entry for Madison County for McDonald Farms, and there is one entity in the ownership structure that is exempted from disclosure. Caroline Aderholt is also listed as a 25 percent owner of Greenbriar Farms, but it received no subsidies from USDA. This is supported by her husband’s financial disclosure forms, which list income of $5,001-$15,000 from Greenbriar Farms/McDonald Farms in 2009 and an additional $5,001-$15,000 in farm income from Beaver Dam Farms in 2009.
EWG estimated that farm subsidies paid to Caroline Aderholt using the percentage share information provided to USDA totaled $191,580 in 1995-2009, assuming she has a 1/16th share of the ownership of McDonald Farms. EWG could only obtain ownership data for 2001-2008. The estimate is based on Caroline Aderhold being a 1/16th owner of McDonald Farms since 1995 and that the ownership structure in USDA’s files is that of Madison County, not Limestone County. In 2009, USDA did not release ownership percentage information due to changes in the 2008 Farm Bill that shielded certain data from release. There is an entity in McDonald Farms’ ownership structure in Limestone County for 2009 that was exempted from release.

Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.)
Bachmann did not get federal farm subsidies directly. Her late father-in-law, Paul Bachmann, received $259,332 in subsidies in 1995-2008. On her financial disclosure forms, Bachmann lists an interest in Bachmann Family Farm LP, from which she received income in the $15,001-$50,000 range in 2009. Bachmann Family Farm LP does not appear in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database.

Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa)
Boswell is listed as directly receiving $16,235 in subsidies in 2001-2008. His disclosure form shows an ownership interest in 475 acres but no income in 2009. 

Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.)
Campbell is listed as a 1.5 percent owner of the Campbell/McNee Family Farm LLC, which received $10,364 in federal farm subsidies in 2007-2009. This is supported by Campbell’s financial disclosure forms, which list Campbell/Mcnee Family Farm LLC in Cottonwood, Kansas, as generating $2,501-$5,000 in income in 2009. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Campbell, using the percentage share information provided to USDA, is $155 in 2007-2009.

Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.)
Costa is listed as a 50 percent owner of Lena E Costa Living Trust, which received $2,494 in federal farm subsidies in 2006-2007. Costa’s financial disclosure form shows that he had income of $100,001-$1,000,000 in 2009 from Costa Farms in Fresno, Calif. Costa Farms does not appear in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database of USDA data. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Costa, using the percentage share information provided to USDA, is $1,247 in 2006-2007.

Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas)
Farenthold received $1,205 in farm subsidies directly from USDA in 1999-2005.  His financial disclosure forms for 2009 do not list any additional sources.

Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.)
Fincher is listed as directly receiving $114,519 from USDA. Fincher’s farm, Stephen & Lynn Fincher Farms, is also in the database for 1995-1999, receiving $3,254,324 in farm subsidies 1999-2009.  Fincher and his wife Lynn are each 50 percent partners in the farm. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Fincher and his wife is $3,368,843 between 1995 and 2009.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.)
Hartzler is listed in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database but received no money. Her husband, Lowell Hartzler, is listed as a 98 percent owner of Hartzler Farms, which received $774,489 in 1995-2009. His ownership percentage changed from 53 percent as of 2005 to 98 percent in 2006. Lowell Hartzler is also listed as a 50 percent owner of L&M Farms, which received no subsidy payments. Hartzler’s financial disclosure forms list an interest in Hartzler Farms and KLD Farms. KLD Farms also does not appear in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Lowell Hartzler, using the percentage share information (assumed 53 percent for years previous to 2006) provided to USDA, is $469,292 in 1995-2009.

Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.)
Holt is listed as a 10.5 percent owner of Froelich Land Trust No 1, which received $33,021 in farm subsidies in 1995-2008. Holt’s wife, Margaret Lancefield, is listed as a 25 percent owner of Lancefield Farm, which received $23,478 in 1996-2009. His financial disclosure forms for 2009 list both Foelich Land Trust and Lancefield Farm. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Holt and his wife, using the percentage share information supplied by USDA, is $9,337 in 1995-2009.

Rep. Timothy Huelskamp (R-Kansas)
Huelskamp is listed as receiving $258 directly from USDA in 2002. According to his financial disclosure forms, he received a salary from H&H Farms. This farm is likely owned by his parents, Leroy and Estelle Huelskamp. H&H Farms received $1,169,499 in federal farm subsidies in 1995-2009. According to his financial forms, he also received a salary from Tim Huelskamp Farms which does not appear in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database. 

Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.)
Kline’s wife, Vicky Sheldon Kline, is listed in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database as a 20 percent owner of Sheldon Family Farms LP, which received $23,667 in federal payments in 2000-2009. Kline’s financial form for 2009 lists Sheldon Family Farm as being rented in 2009, but no amount of income was noted. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Vicky Sheldon Klein, using the percentage share information provided to USDA, is $4,733 in 2000-2009.

Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa)
Latham is listed as partial owner of four entities in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database:
                        Latham Seed Co, $448,925 in 1995-2003 (33 percent)
                        Latham Hospital Farm, $76,612 in 1995-2001 (25 percent)
                        Latham Kanawha Farm, $15,648 in 1995-2001 (25 percent)
                        DTB Farms LLC, $472,018 in 2003-2009 (33 percent)
In his 2009 financial disclosure form, Latham is listed as an owner of four farms: Blom Farm, Latham Farms LLC, Latimer Farm and Madderman Farm. Blom, Latimer and Madderman farms are rented out, according to the financial forms. Latham Farms is listed as providing no income for 2009. DTB Farms is listed on the 2008 forms. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Latham, using the percentage share information provided to USDA, is $330,046 in 1995-2009.

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.)
Peterson is listed in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database as receiving $828 in 2005-2009. 
Peterson lists Thief River Farm Partnership on his financial disclosure forms for 2009, and it is described as being rented out, with income being in the $1,001-$2,500 range.

Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R-Mont.)
Rehberg received $7,971 directly from USDA in 1995-2002. Rehburg’s wife, Jan Rehberg, received $51 directly from USDA in 2008. Jan Rehberg also has ownership in two entities that received payments. She has a 33 percent stake in Lenhardt Property LP, which received $517 in 2006-2009. She also has a 5.6 percent stake in Teigen Land and Livestock Company, which received $31,890 in 2002-2003. Rehberg’s financial disclosure forms for 2009 show ownership in Lenhardt Farm LLC, Rehberg Ranch and Rehberg Ranch Land and Livestock. None appears in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies to Rehberg and his wife, using the percentage share information provided to USDA, is $9,980 in 1995-2009.

Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.)
Stutzman is listed as directly receiving $179,370 in subsidies in 1997-2009. His financial disclosure forms for 2009 list Stutzman Farms as generating a salary of $48,985. Stutzman Farms does not appear in the EWG Farm Subsidy Database.

Rep. Kristi Noem
Noem was a partner in Racota Valley Ranch until 2008. Racota Valley Ranch received $3,058,152 in farm subsides in 1995-2008. Her ownership percentage was 13.5 percent in 2000-2001 and 16.9 percent in 2002-2008. Her 2009 financial disclosure form lists her as a partner in Racota Valley Ranch.  EWG’s estimate of federal farm subsidies paid to Noem is $443,748.

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas)
Neugebauer is part 50 percent owner of Lubbock Land Company Five LTD, for which he received $3,369 in farm subsidies in 1998-1999, Lubbock Land Company Two LTD, for which he received $4,608 over the same period. His financial disclosure forms for 2009 do not list those interests. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Neugubauer is $3,989 in 1998 and 1999

Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.)
Lummis is a 31.33 percent owner of Lummis Livestock, which received $47,093 in farm subsidies in 1996-2002. She lists her ownership of Lummis Livestock in her 2009 financial disclosure form. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Lummis is $14,289 between 1996 and 2002.

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas)
He is listed in the database, under the name William M. Thornberry, as receiving $4,306 in farm subsidies in 1995-1999. He is also a one-third owner of Thornberry Brothers, which received $65,326 in subsidies in 1995-2009. His financial disclosure form lists him as an owner in Thornberry Brothers Cattle. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Rep. Thornberry is $26,081 between 1995 and 2009.

US SENATE

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)
His 2010 financial disclosure forms list his wife, Susan Daggett, as a 5.5 percent owner of Daggett Farms LP and LMD Farms LP. Daggett Farms LP received $258,916 in farm subsidies in 1995-2008, and LMD Farms LP received $102,291 in 2000-2009. The amount allocated to her would be $14,240 from Daggett Farms and $5,626 from LMD Farms LP. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Bennet is $19,866 between 1995 and 2009.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
Grassley received $263,635 in federal farm subsidies in 1995-2009. His son, Robin Grassley, received $783,548 in farm subsidies in 1995-2009.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
His financial disclosure forms list his wife Elaine as a 1 percent owner of Edries N. Hansen Properties LLC. Edries N Hansen Properties LLC received $90,898 in farm subsidies in 2008-2009. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Hatch’s wife Elaine is $909 in 2008 and 2009.

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.)
Lugar is listed as a 9.39 percent owner of Lugar Stock Farm. His wife, Charlene Smeltzer Lugar, is listed as a 7.42 percent owner of Lugar Stock Farm. Lugar Stock Farm received $158,892 in farm subsidies in 1995-2009. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Lugar and his wife is $26,710 between 1995 and 2009.
 
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.)
Tester received $159,549 directly from USDA in 1995-2009.  His wife Sharla is listed as a 50 percent owner of T-Bone Farms – the senator is listed as owning the other 50 percent. T-Bone farms received $282,754 in federal farm subsidies in 1995-2009. EWG’s estimate of farm subsidies paid to Tester and his wife is $ 442,303 between 1995 and 2009.

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