Farm Subsidy Payments

Tuesday, June 12th 2007, 12:49 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ New data from the U.S. Agriculture Department on farm subsidies shows more than $538 million in crop subsidies went to Oklahomans from 2003 to 2005. Three Altus men each received more than $1 million during the three year period and three others from Altus each received more than $900,000.

The data shows Mitchell Worrell, Harold Worrell and Robert Robbins junior each received more than $1 million in subsidies. Sam Vinyard, Dan Vinyard and Audean Vinyard each received more than $900,000.

U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin says the information could affect negotiations on a new farm bill as lawmakers consider reducing direct payments to farmers.

The Bush administration wants to close loopholes in the subsidy program and stop payments to anyone making more than $200,000 in adjusted gross income.

And Senators Byron Dorgan and Charles Grassley are offering a bill to limit individual farm payments to $250,000.

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Beneficiaries of the Crop Subsidy Program from farms in Oklahoma totaled more than $538 million from 2003-2005. The top 20 beneficiaries of federal subsidies paid to Oklahoma farms from 2003-2005:

1. Mitchell D. Worrell, Altus, $1,576,400

2. Robert Dan Robbins Jr., Altus, $1,493,819

3. Harold D. Worrell, Altus, $1,125,322

4. Sam Vinyard, Altus, $993,844

5. Dan Vinyard, Altus, $965,743

6. Audean Vinyard, Altus, $933,731

7. Robert Robbins, Altus, $866,758

8. Randall R. Williams, Altus, $849,973

9. Homer Ryan, Frederick, $732,063

10. Eddie W. Mitchell, Eldorado, $721,944

11. Murray R. Williams, Altus, $662,718

12. Frankie Long, Hollis, $640,132

13. Clint Abernathy, Altus, $625,866

14. Robert Earl Roudebush, Altus, $604,293

15. Jimmie Meeks, Tipton, $599,391

16. John C. Bates, Altus, $586,972

17. Joe Bates, Altus, $586,956

18. Nick L. Dysart, Tipton, $566,756

19. Connie Clemans, Guymon, $537,227

20. Alan J. Clemans, Guymon, $537,227