Trump shafts farm programs with federal freeze of USDA
Editor:
On his first day in office, Trump froze millions of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Environmental Incentive Program (EQIP) funds that directly affect farmers in Orleans County.
Farmers who joined the EQIP, paid up front to build fences, plant crops and install renewable energy equipment with the Biden guarantee the US government would provide grants and loan guarantees to cover at least part of their costs. Trump has also frozen funding for research grants for climate-smart crops.
Another group of grants to farmers totaling 32 billion authorized under Biden are now vulnerable to being cut. For additional information, I suggest reading “Farmers on the hook for millions after Trump freezes USDA funds” in the 11 Feb 2025 issue of The Spokesman-Review. The Orleans County Cornell Extension office at (585) 798-4265 and Congresswoman Tenney’s office will have information on the cuts and what future USDA programs are vulnerable.
Jack Capurso
AHS 1960
Ashburn, Va.
