The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would release $20 million in funding paused under the Inflation Reduction Act review. Small farms are particularly affected as they have tighter profit margins and limited access to credit. Farmers are facing uncertainty and canceling contracts due to frozen funding. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins criticized the previous administration’s policies. Brian Geier, a farmer from Indiana, is unsure if he will receive a grant to expand his farm. Farmers relying on grants related to climate change are also concerned about the freeze. Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, a nonprofit with climate-related projects, is owed $2 million by the USDA. Farmers like Roell are seeking funds to make their farms more resilient after weather-related disasters. The delays in funding are impacting farmers’ ability to plan for the future and could lead to staff layoffs for organizations like Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. Small farms are struggling to adapt to uncertain funding timelines and may need to scale back operations if the freeze continues.
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