Gordon’s Policy Corner, March 2025. By OFRF & NSAC Staff

In much of the country, spring is on its way. For farmers and ranchers, it’s time for planting decisions, for calving and lambing, for lining up their financial capital and markets for a busy season, and more.

But this year, it’s different: across the country, tens of thousands of farmers and farmer-serving organizations have been thrown into limbo by an unprecedented freeze of federal funding and subsequent mass firings of USDA employees. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently withholding payments owed under signed, lawful contracts, causing turmoil across the food system. And in a move that will have far-reaching consequences–including disrupting critical research, data collection, and economic analysis that farmers, the businesses they sell to, and policymakers rely on–the administration has dismissed hundreds of thousands of federal employees.

We wrote about The Consequences of Mass Firings Across the USDA in a recent blog, and now we’re taking space in this month’s Policy Corner to share an important action alert from our allies at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC):

Our Farmers and Neighbors Need Your Voice, Now More than Ever 

The disruption of USDA programs is already having serious consequences for farmers, food systems, and our communities:

  • Farmers who’ve already installed new irrigation equipment or planted cover crops with support from USDA are now unable to receive the reimbursements they were promised, jeopardizing their financial stability.
  • Programs that pair local farmers with local food banks are pausing their procurement plans, at the exact time growers most need to know their markets for the season.
  • Organizations who train and support beginning farmers are instead having to lay off staff.
  • Families are anxious about grocery store prices and the availability of food long term.

These immediate impacts could compound and lead to further suffering without swift intervention from Congress.

None of this should be happening: these are signed agreements with the federal government, and USDA must follow through on its commitments before impacts worsen in communities nationwide. Congress has the ability to ensure that USDA restores access to critical programs and funding, and they need to hear directly from folks who are affected – along with all of us who care about our local farmers and ranchers, our fellow neighbors, and the organizations that help us strengthen our communities.

Calling takes only 60 seconds: can you call and email your members of Congress, urging them to protect our farmers and communities from further harm?

Our OFRF Advocacy Page has a new #GetActive Guide to help you prepare to stay active and engaged in policy issues impacting food and farmers at this critical time.