As you know, farmers across the country are facing critical challenges as the federal funding freeze continues to impact essential agricultural programs. Although farmers were not supposed to be affected by the federal funding freeze, we know that is not the reality on the ground. Last week, Land Stewardship Project staff traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with our Congressional delegation and share stories of farmer-members who are being impacted by the federal funding uncertainty. The number one message we received is that members of Congress need to hear directly from farmers who have signed contracts with USDA but are not receiving payments or have had their project paused. Congress needs to hear directly from farmers and rural residents as communication with USDA and other agencies is slow, unclear, or nonexistent.

Farmers are making plans and decisions right now for what seed and inputs they will need to buy for this season. In some cases they have already purchased cover crop seed or trees for a Conservation Stewardship Program contract, have bought fencing or watering lines for an Environmental Quality Incentives Program contract, or have livestock ready to be processed for a Local Food Purchasing Assistance Cooperative Agreement.

This is a critical time, which is why we’re reaching out to LSP’s farmers, rural, and urban supporters to make your voices heard. Take five minutes to share your story and show your support for our regenerative farmers.

TAKE ACTION: I am an Impacted Farmer

If your farm has been impacted by the funding freeze, please take action today and let your Congressional members know if you are currently frozen out of a contract or waiting on reimbursements. If you can, please customize the message to include your personal story and which program you have a contract under — that is incredibly helpful information for these offices to know as they fight to save and protect this funding for farmers.

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We are all connected by our farm and food system, whether you are actively farming or not. We all need to eat, and we all benefit from healthy soil, clean water, and strong rural economies. These recent funding freezes and cuts touch all of us and are especially harmful to rural communities as payments to food banks and food shelves are frozen, forcing them to abandon contracts with local growers and change food offerings. In addition, staff with the USDA/NRCS are being laid off in offices that are already stretched thin and which maintain important services for our farmers and rural residents and administer key programs like disaster relief and conservation programming, as well as the monitoring of bird flu and other viruses.

TAKE ACTION: I Stand With
Regenerative Farmers

Take action today to tell your members of Congress to honor their commitments to farmers and our communities and unfreeze these funds now!

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Over the past few weeks, LSP has been working actively with our Congressional partners, the Minnesota Attorney General’s office, and the Minnesota Senate Ag Committee to elevate farmer stories. Please reach out directly to Laura Schreiber, LSP’s Government Relations Director, if you would like more information or are interested in sharing your story.