Farmers who signed contracts with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) under programs promising federal funding are facing a devastating reality: millions of dollars in promised grants and loans have been frozen.
The USDA had assured farmers that projects directly benefiting individuals would not be affected by a federal funding freeze. However, many farmers now find themselves on the hook for up-front payments made with guarantees of government backing.
Laura Beth Resnick, owner of a Maryland flower farm, was told her reimbursement payment for a $72,900 solar panel installation was rejected due to Trump’s executive order. Similar cases have emerged across the country, with some farmers facing bills of over $200,000 that they cannot pay without government assistance.
The USDA has also halted funding for scientific research grants in agriculture and climate-smart crop production, citing concerns about congressional oversight. However, House Democrats argue that these moves will “cripple economic development in rural America.”
Farmers are already struggling to make ends meet due to tariffs, freezes on foreign-aid spending, and lack of predictability in government funding. The current freeze is the latest blow to an already fragile farm economy.
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew warns that the Trump administration’s decisions are creating uncertainty for farmers across the country. Skylar Holden, a cattle farmer in Missouri, has lost $80,000 in upfront payments due to the freeze and fears he may have to sell his equipment and livestock to cover costs.
As hundreds of farmers are left struggling to make ends meet, concerns about trust between farmers and the government grow. The future of farming hangs in the balance as the USDA’s funding freeze takes its toll on rural America.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/02/10/farmers-agriculture-funding-frozen