Federal Funding Freeze Action Center

Across the country, tens of thousands of farmers and the organizations serving them have been impacted by an unprecedented freeze on federal funds obligated under signed, lawful contracts.

Many in the OEFFA community and beyond remain in limbo. Producers who participated in recently terminated LFPA programs, like Ohio CAN, are now confronted with revenue shortages. Farmers who’ve already installed irrigation equipment or planted cover crops with support from the USDA have been understandably concerned about the reimbursements they were promised.

Secretary Rollins has suggested that they are releasing Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) dollars for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), but how the rest of the IRA funding will be spent remains unknown. The uncertainty around federal funding has shaken farmers’ trust in the USDA and made it harder to plan for the 2025 season. Organizations that train and support farmers are instead having to lay off staff. Families are anxious about grocery store prices and the long-term availability of food.

These immediate impacts could compound and lead to further hardship without swift intervention from Congress, the USDA, and our new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins.

We’ve surveyed the OEFFA community, held office hours for those impacted, and collected resources for farmers and organizations. You’ll see all of that below, along with an action opportunity for those who want to help us stand up for farmers.

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Has your farm, business, or farm-centered organization been impacted by the funding freeze? Your voice makes a difference. Use our email guide to send an impactful message to Secretary Rollins and your members of Congress. We provide tips for personalizing the pre-drafted message so you can take action in just a few minutes!

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