(WASHINGTON D.C.) — The USDA has frozen some funding for farmers as it goes through a sweeping review, despite assurances from the Trump administration that programs helping farmers wouldn’t be affected during the government overhaul.
Reuters says the impact has been wide-ranging, from cash assistance for ranchers to help fix cattle watering systems to help for corn growers wanting to plant cover crops that curb wind erosion. The freeze adds even more economic uncertainty for farmers already struggling after consecutive years of incomes dragged down by low crop prices.
Bloomberg says the American Soybean Association has been notified by growers that payments associated with the Climate-Smart Commodities Program have been suspended. The ASA stressed to the USDA that it should honor the contractual agreement it made with farmers. Senate Ag Committee Democrats joined Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar in sending a letter to USDA requesting information on actions taken by USDA to pause these payments.
