Trump administration cuts $1 billion in funding for sustainable, ‘climate smart’ farm programs

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in a press release Monday her agency was immediately canceling the $3.1 billion program. The agency said a review of the projects awarded by former President Joe Biden’s administration found they had “sky-high administration fees” instead of providing the funding directly to farmers.

The agency has rebranded the grant program as the Advancing Markets for Producers initiative. Organizations who were previously awarded funding can reapply to continue their projects if they direct a minimum of 65 percent of funds directly to farm payments.

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The grant funding has been on hold since the Trump administration froze a number of federal programs shortly after taking office.

According to USDA, 29 projects funded through the Climate-Smart program involved Wisconsin, with a combined total of $1 billion.

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[Executive Director Lori Stern] said she was not surprised by the program’s end given the Trump administration’s opposition to programs addressing climate change.

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