The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the release of approximately $20 million in previously frozen funds to honor contracts with farmers. These contracts are part of conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
This decision follows a funding freeze initiated by the Trump administration as part of a broader government overhaul. Although the freeze was officially rescinded and has been blocked in court, a federal judge noted that the government continued to withhold funds.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the importance of supporting American farmers and ranchers, stating, “We will honor our commitments to American farmers and ranchers, and we will ensure they have the support they need to be the most competitive in the world.”
Despite this partial release, many farmers remain uncertain about the status of their payments. For instance, Elisa Lane, owner of Two Boots Farm in Maryland, expressed concerns about the future of her grant, noting that it feels like her grant is “on this assembly line of grants that are marching toward the chopping block.”
The USDA continues to review funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which allocated nearly $20 billion to assist farmers in adopting conservation and climate-smart practices. While some funds have been directed to farmers who have made investments in these programs, the agency is still evaluating other aspects of the IRA funding.
In summary, the USDA’s release of $20 million in frozen funds is a positive development for farmers with existing contracts. However, uncertainties remain regarding the full extent of future funding and the agency’s ongoing review of conservation program allocations.
