The money represents a drop in a very large bucket of money farmers are waiting on, since a long list of additional USDA programs remain paused.
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The money represents a drop in a very large bucket of money farmers are waiting on, since a long list of additional USDA programs remain paused.
February 24, 2025
February 24, 2025 – On February 20, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the release of $20 million in conservation program funds already granted to farmers through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
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The money represents a drop in a very large bucket of money farmers are waiting on, since a long list of additional USDA programs remain paused. USDA called it the “first tranche” of released funding and said additional announcements will be made soon.
“After careful review, it is clear that some of this funding went to programs that had nothing to do with agriculture—that is why we are still reviewing—whereas other funding was directed to farmers and ranchers who have since made investments in these programs,” Rollins said in a statement. “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.” Rollins added that the agency is continuing to review “IRA [Inflation Reduction Act] funding” to make sure USDA programs support farmers and ranchers, “not DEIA programs or far-left climate programs.” However, the funds that have been frozen since President Trump took office extend far beyond money granted through Biden’s IRA.
In a statement, National Farmers Union president Rob Larew said the pause has been exacerbating economic uncertainty among farmers and in rural communities and called the announcement “a welcome first step. . . . Farmers are now making business decisions for the coming year and can’t wait much longer. We urge USDA to quickly complete its review, release all remaining funds, and ensure continuity in these essential programs,” he said. (Link to this post.)
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