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Tell Congress Farmers are being Harmed by Federal Funding Freeze

Take Action to Save Programs that Support Regenerative Ag, Emerging Farmers, Food Banks & a Healthy Environment

February 19, 2025

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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.

♦ ♦ ♦

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!

♦ ♦ ♦

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.

Category: Action Alerts
Tags: conservation funding • CSP • EQIP • Farm Bill • federal policy • funding freeze • USDA

Contact

Laura Schreiber, LSP government relations director, e-mail

Upcoming Events

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July 2025

Friday July 18

9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Russell Hedrick Soil Health Event: Lac qui Parle County
Friday July 18
9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Russell Hedrick Soil Health Event: Lac qui Parle County
1174 295th Ave, Dawson, MN 56232

Details are here.

Tuesday July 22

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Sartell
Tuesday July 22
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Sartell
2611 17th St N, Sartell, MN 56377, USA

Details are here.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Tuesday July 22
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Far North Spirits, 2045 220th Avenue, Hallock, MN 56728, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

  • Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
  • Hear from a panel of local speakers.
  • Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
  • Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
  • Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
  • Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.  

For more information, click here. 

Locations & Dates:
Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

  • Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
  • Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
  • Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
  • Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
  • Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
  • Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
  • Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
  • Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Agrivoltaics: Growing Forages & grain Crops
Tuesday July 22
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Agrivoltaics: Growing Forages & grain Crops
Online Webinar

This free webinar series is about cattle and sheep solar grazing and growing forages or grain crops under solar panels.

The practice of grazing livestock under solar panels has become increasingly popular. It is often referred to as agrivoltaics or solar grazing. This system involves the use of land for both solar energy production and livestock grazing or crop production. In this session, Sabrina Florentino will talk about forage production research and the Rauenhorst Farm Agrivoltaics Project on growing row crops under solar panels.

To register, click here. 

Wednesday July 23

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Villard
Wednesday July 23
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Villard
15290 127th St, Villard, MN 56385, USA

Details are here.

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