By Blake Jackson
Over the past four months, farmers across the United States have faced growing uncertainty as the Trump Administration has made sudden and sweeping changes to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These shifts have resulted in the cancellation of funding, layoffs of USDA staff, and disruption of vital support programs for farmers.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), which includes around 150 organizations nationwide, has stepped in to help farmers navigate these changes. “We keep it as up to date as possible in terms of any new directives from the administrative branch we're learning about, any new contract terminations, any funds that have been released and also possible litigation efforts,” said NSAC’s Stef Funk.
Farmers usually receive government support through grants, insurance, loans, and programs for land conservation and improvements. Local food systems also benefit from federal funding. However, many of these programs have been defunded or cut short, causing concern especially among small and sustainable farms.
Eowyn Corral, also with NSAC, notes that unlike past changes in government leadership, this administration’s decisions have deeply disrupted USDA services. They warn that the damage being done to the agriculture system could take over a decade to repair, especially for underserved and environmentally focused farms.
The NSAC is working hard to distribute updates and resources through email to partner groups, who then share them with farmers directly. Trust in the federal government is low among farmers, so peer-to-peer information sharing has become essential.
Funk says that due to fast-moving changes, documents often need to be rewritten almost immediately after they are finished. With further USDA staff reductions expected, more disruptions may follow.
In response, organizations like NSAC are stepping in to support farmers through this uncertain time by keeping them informed and connected with trusted help.
Photo Credit: istock-fangxianuo
Categories: Missouri, Government & Policy