This week, SFR explores the world of farm subsidies in Santa Fe County—the vast majority of which end up with the King family (ex-Gov. Bruce, current Attorney General Gary, state Rep. Rhonda, PRC Chairman David, etc.). Here, we take a closer look at just who gets how much farm money from the feds.


The Patriarch
In 1918, Mollie and William King left Texas and homesteaded on 160 acres of farmland in Stanley, N.M. They had four children and began building what would someday be among the largest corn and alfalfa operations in Santa Fe County.

The Holdings
Taken together, the King family's four Santa Fe County properties account for the bulk of the farm subsidies coming into Santa Fe County—not to mention what they get for their holdings in neighboring Torrance County. Here's the breakdown for farm subsidies received in the past 15 years, 1995-2009:

King Brothers: $1,227,567
King Farms: $912,689
Pine Canyon Ranch: $649,988
King Land & Cattle: $372,405
TOTAL: $2,125,277

Not all that money comes in the form of direct payments. In the case of Pine Canyon Ranch, which is currently advertised as a future subdivision, most federal subsidies have been for conservation reserve programs. But the rest of the roughly $45,000 King brothers and heirs received last year from the feds went almost exclusively to direct payments for commodity crops—"the most egregious" kind of subsidy, according to Environmental Working Group adviser Don Carr.

The Three Brothers
William's three sons—Sam King, Sr., former New Mexico Gov. Bruce King (who passed away last November) and Don L. King—share ownership of King Brothers, the top-ranked farm subsidy beneficiary in the county. Note: Since these are 2009 numbers, they may not accurately reflect ownership shares since former Gov. King's death.

Don L. King
King Brothers ownership share: 33.33%
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: $365,014.19
Daughter: Rhonda King

Bruce King
King Brothers ownership share: 33.33%
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: $122,189.84
Sons: Bill King, Attorney General Gary King

Sam King, Sr.
King Brothers ownership share: 33.34%
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: $118,828.83
Son: Sam King


The Heirs
According to the family members SFR spoke with, Bill and Sam L. King handle most of the family farming operations. The Environmental Working Group, which publishes an annual database of federal farm subsidy payments, cautions users not to equate ownership shares with actual payouts. All King holdings receive subsidies from both Santa Fe and Torrance Counties, but primarily from Santa Fe, so (particularly with King Land & Cattle) Torrance County shares likely mean very little in the way of actual subsidy payments, which is why SFR is using percentages.


Bill King
King Farms ownership share: 50%
Pine Canyon Ranch ownership share: 16.67%
King Land & Cattle ownership share: 50% in Santa Fe; 20% in Torrance
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: $223,985.33


Sam L. King
King Farms ownership share: 50%
Pine Canyon Ranch ownership share: 11.11%
King Land & Cattle ownership share: 50% in Santa Fe; 20% in Torrance
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: $174,603.48


Jerry King
Pine Canyon Ranch ownership share: 16.67%
King Land & Cattle ownership share: 20% in Torrance County only, as of 2006
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: $14,530.03

Gary King
Pine Canyon Ranch ownership share: 16.67%
King Land & Cattle ownership share: 20% in Torrance County only, as of 2006
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: not listed
Public office: New Mexico Attorney General

Rhonda King
Pine Canyon Ranch ownership share: 16.67%
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: not listed
Public office: state representative, D-Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Torrance

David King
Pine Canyon Ranch ownership share: 11.11%
King Land & Cattle ownership share: 20% in Torrance County only, as of 2006
Total subsidy payments, 1995-2009: not listed
Public office: Chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC)