Thousands of American farmers are facing uncertainty as they await crucial payments from federal conservation programs, with many struggling to survive without these funds. The delay stems from a spending freeze initiated under President Trump’s administration, which has frozen nearly $20 billion in payments that were supposed to be distributed to farmers this year.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made an announcement on Thursday that a small portion of the funds would be released, providing some relief to farmers. In a statement, Rollins noted that in compliance with White House directives, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would honor contracts already made with farmers. Specifically, approximately $20 million would be released for various conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
However, this announcement was met with disappointment from organizations like the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC). Policy Director Mike Lavender criticized the partial release, emphasizing that farmers need real, immediate support—not just token amounts. He pointed out that the $20 million released represents only about 1% of the funding guaranteed to farmers through contracts under programs like CSP and EQIP for the fiscal year 2023. As a result, many farmers across the country are still left in limbo, unsure of how they’ll manage their operations or whether the government will uphold its commitments.
The NSAC is calling for urgent action, urging the USDA to expedite the release of all frozen funds, reopen conservation program enrollment, and fulfill its legal obligations to farmers. The government’s announcement offered no clear timeline on when, or if, the remaining payments would be distributed. Secretary Rollins mentioned that some contracts under review had been identified as unrelated to agriculture, but no further details were provided. The delay continues to put farmers at risk, and the need for full transparency and action is more pressing than ever.