News

A Blow to Agricultural Research and Rural Communities

Written by Gordon Merrick and OFRF staff

Editor’s note: Since the publication of this post, the USDA has announced plans to reinstate affected employees. However, the situation remains fluid, and the long-term impacts on agricultural research funding and capacity are still unfolding. OFRF remains committed to advocating for strong, stable investment in organic research to ensure farmers and researchers have the resources they need to innovate and thrive.

In a sweeping, indiscriminate move that has sent shockwaves through the agricultural community, the administration has dismissed thousands of federal employees with the stated goal of reducing government spending and increasing operational efficiency. While the full scope of these staff cuts is still emerging, recent communications requesting employees justify their continued employment have added to the uncertainty. What is already clear, however, is that the USDA has been acutely impacted, particularly within the agencies that form the backbone of our nation’s agricultural research and farmer technical and financial assistance programs.

The Role of USDA Research Agencies and the Impacts of These Firings

The agencies within the Research, Education, and Economics division of the USDA (USDA-REE) are the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the Economic Research Service (ERS), and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). These agencies are cornerstones of our agricultural assistance systems, conducting and awarding grants for high-quality research that informs and improves our conservation, risk management, and market development programming in other USDA mission areas.

As these mass firings unfold, it remains difficult to assess the full extent of the cuts, with many agency personnel pages having been taken down. What’s already evident is that these mass firings will have far-reaching consequences—disrupting critical research, data collection, and economic analysis that farmers, the businesses they sell to, and policymakers rely on.

The United States Congress covered with snow.

Among the agencies most directly affected by these cuts is ARS, which plays a crucial role in advancing agronomic research. ARS is the sole intramural research agency at the USDA, conducting long-term research that will undoubtedly face disruptions due to these firings. Reports indicate significant staffing reductions at ARS stations, with sources stating that 10-50% of the workforce at different stations has been dismissed, reportedly due to performance-related concerns. While the scope and rationale for these firings remain unclear, they have already disrupted critical research programs across the country.

It is still unclear how NIFA has been affected by these firings. NIFA doesn’t conduct its own research but rather operates competitive grant programs that fund research conducted by farmers themselves (SARE), land-grant institutions, and nonprofits across the country (OREI). As we’ve written about in the past weeks, the RFAs for these grant programs are still under review, and application portals, including for grants that were supposed to be open for applicants, are not currently available, impacting critical funding for universities and other institutions.

Focused more on understanding the past, present, and future status of agricultural markets and related information are the USDA’s NASS and ERS agencies. NASS works to collect and publish raw data about the agricultural system in the United States through their Census of Agriculture and supplemental surveys, like the Organic Survey. ERS provides crucial economic analyses on agriculture, food markets, and the environment. Their research has led to a better understanding of the economic impact of publicly-funded agricultural research: every $1 invested triggers $20 of economic activity, a massive return on investment (ROI). This fact highlights the point that cutting research dollars will negatively impact the agricultural economy.

Immediate Consequences

The abrupt firing of USDA scientists and their lab staff at ARS has thrown vital research projects into chaos. Initiatives aimed at critical topics like improving crop resilience, combating pests and diseases, and improving livestock production systems are now jeopardized, facing setbacks due to reduced research capacity. This is not isolated to any one region or station, derailing research projects that have been able to continue for decades, even through the COVID pandemic, due to the dedication of the civil servants that are now being cast aside.

These firings not only impact the research projects, though; they impact the local and often rural communities that host the research stations and the employees who work there. As mentioned above, the massive ROI of agricultural research will be drastically reduced. In one case, the research station in Salinas, California, has had four researchers and seven lab staff fired, reflecting hundreds of thousands of dollars that will no longer be circulating in that community, meaning that the industries that provide supplies and services to these staff will also be taking a significant hit.

Long-term Consequences

The long-term ramifications of these mass firings are profound. Aside from the economic impacts on the businesses directly involved with the research, this will impact the agricultural industry for decades to come. The United States risks falling even farther behind in meeting the growing demand for organic products as domestic production struggles to keep pace without the support of robust research programming. For example, if NIFA does not award funds through their competitive grant programs, this will lead to significant setbacks at land-grant universities across the nation, simultaneously affecting both the institutions that conduct the research while also hurting the farmers that rely on the research that these programs fund.

Most privately-funded research conducted is focused on generating patentable genetics and compatible products, not the public-welfare-oriented research that NIFA competitive grants fund and ARS conducts. Put simply, cutting federal research funding and personnel undermines the economic engine and weakens the resilience of the agricultural systems against climate change and supply chain disruptions.

Why This Matters

Agricultural research is the backbone of the technical and financial assistance programs operated by the USDA that ensure food security, food safety, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality for the United States. Disruptions in research will lead to higher food prices, reduced innovation in sustainable agriculture systems, and ultimately weakened rural economies. It is imperative to recognize that supporting agricultural research is an investment in the nation’s future success, ensuring that our domestic food supply is stable and resilient, especially in the face of a continually unpredictable international trade environment.

But, it is important to highlight that these firings were not just in USDA-REE’s agencies. The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the primary conduit for free technical assistance for farmers, had over 1,200 field staff fired; the Farm Service Agency (FSA) has been significantly impacted, in some cases being forced to close entire county offices; and the Risk Management Agency (RMA), which supports farms securing of insurance products and other risk-reduction assistance, have seen significant firings which are just starting to be understood. Ultimately, these firings are impacting these programs’ ability to access high-quality agronomic research and economic information that improves their operation, as well as their specific on-the-ground operation.

OFRF’s Commitment to Farmers

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has a longstanding history of advocating for policies, research, and programs that support organic farmers, both certified and non-certified. Our efforts have directly led to increased USDA funding for organic research, the development of conservation programs tailored to organic producers, and the inclusion of organic priorities in federal farm policies and appropriations allocations. Looking ahead, we have outlined our key policy priorities to strengthen organic research and ensure farmers have the resources they need to succeed.

In this current environment of uncertainty, OFRF is actively working to both understand and address the challenges posed by these mass firings by engaging with policymakers, providing resources to affected communities, and amplifying the voices of farmers and researchers who have been affected.

We have already been working to get in contact with researchers and their support staff who have been unjustly fired during this time. If you have a story or experience you are willing to share, please reach out directly to our Senior Policy & Programs Manager at gordon@ofrf.org or through his Signal account at 207.408.3086.

How To Take Action

Staying informed and taking action right now is crucial to counteract these impacts.

• Get Educated: We at OFRF have developed a newly updated advocacy page that will help you understand the issues and access resources. We will be continually updating this webpage as new materials and resources are developed.
• Contact Your Representatives: Share your concerns about the impact of these layoffs on agricultural research, the technical and financial assistance that it impacts, and the rural communities that benefit from these investments. Personal stories about what these mean are oftentimes more important than impersonal data. Find their contact information here.
• Engage in Community Advocacy: Participate in local meetings that help raise awareness of these impacts, write Letters to the Editor and opinion pieces in your local news outlets, and collaborate with organizations like OFRF to raise awareness.
• Support Affected Workers: Offer assistance to those who have lost their jobs, whether through networking opportunities or whatever is possible given your current situation.

By taking these steps, you can contribute to a collective effort to uphold the rule of law and the integrity of agricultural research, the technical and financial assistance programs that it bolsters, and the communities that depend on it.

Gordon’s Policy Corner, January 2025

2024 was a year to remember in the political realm, not for the actions taken by Congress, but rather the cans kicked down the proverbial road. We at OFRF wanted to take a moment to review some of the happenings at the close of last year, and give a brief overview of what that means for the legislative and administrative agendas in 2025. 

What Happened in 2024?

Long story short, the last year of the 118th Congress was defined by lots of aspiration and almost no delivery. Here’s a quick rundown of the items we’ve been watching:

• The 2018 Farm Bill was extended (for the second time) for a year, expiring in September 2025. This extension did not include crucial programs that do not receive mandatory levels of funding, like the Organic Certification Cost Share Program and the 1890 Land Grant University Scholarship program. 
• FY25 Appropriations was delayed well into the fiscal year by passing a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the government at FY24 levels into March of 2025. For reference, Congress usually starts working on the next fiscal year budget in February of the preceding year, potentially creating a log jam with all of the rest of the legislative actions needed this year. 
• The federal debt limit was not raised or amended, which means that the United States Treasury will need to order all agencies to begin “extraordinary measures” almost immediately in the new administration.

What Needs to Happen in 2025?

Because of the lack of action in 2024, that has just added more work to the legislative calendar in 2025:

• The Farm Bill is in desperate need of updating, and the Farm Bill process starts over from square one; meaning that marker bills and priorities need to be reintroduced and revisited, and new Members of Congress must be educated on the importance and impacts of the Farm Bill’s many policies on their States and Districts.
• Both FY25 and FY26 Appropriations packages will need to be finished and passed to both avoid a government shutdown, and also make sure the programs and supports that our farmers and researchers need continue!
• One of the biggest things taking up space on the legislative calendar so far this year has been Reconciliation, which is a detailed budget and legislative process that Congress can use to move money around that has not yet been obligated to a specific program or line item. As some might remember from the Democrat’s use of this early in the Biden Administration it is difficult and very procedurally demanding.
• Another budget-related task is the debt limit, mentioned above. This is different from the need to pass a budget, or reconcile for different priorities; this is the authority of the United States Treasury to establish new debts to pay for ongoing obligations. To put simply, this is the debt limit on the nation’s credit cards, and we’re close to hitting it once again. 

What You Can Do

While this legislative gridlock is frustrating, there are ways to make your voice heard and advocate for the programs that matter most:

Call Your Representatives and Senators: Ask them what their stance is on organic agriculture and agricultural research. Let us know how those conversations go!

Highlight the Impacts: Share personal stories about how these programs benefit you, your community, or your operation. Legislators are more likely to act when they hear directly from their constituents.

Stay Engaged: Keep up with the latest developments and participate in advocacy opportunities as they arise. Sharing information with your network can amplify the message and drive greater action.

This continuing situation underscores the importance of public engagement and advocacy to ensure that the programs supporting organic farmers, agricultural research, and rural resilience remain funded and effective. As Congress resumes discussions in the coming months, OFRF will continue to push for robust investments in organic agriculture and support for critical orphan programs.

Your voice is vital. Together, we can ensure that the value of organic farming, research, and education is recognized and supported in Washington.

Stay engaged. Stay informed. Together, we can make a difference.

We’re here for it,

Gordon

OFRF Senior Policy & Programs Manager

gordon@ofrf.org