USDA Overhauls Climate Program to Boost Farmer Support

$3.1B Initiative Restructured to Ensure Majority of Funds Reach Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has canceled the $3.1 billion Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, citing concerns over high administrative costs and insufficient direct support to farmers.

The program has been restructured and renamed as the Advancing Markets for Producers initiative.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the need to prioritize farmers, stating that many projects under the previous program were burdened by complex reporting requirements and did not effectively serve the agricultural community.

“The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative was largely built to advance the green new scam at the benefit of NGOs, not American farmers,” said Secretary Rollins.

Under the new initiative, organizations seeking funding must ensure that at least 65% of the federal funds are directed to producers. Additionally, they must have enrolled and made payments to at least one producer by December 31, 2024.

This overhaul affects numerous projects across the country, including 29 in Wisconsin, which collectively accounted for $1 billion in funding.

The USDA's decision aims to streamline operations, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and ensure that federal funds are utilized effectively to support farmers directly.

The restructuring reflects the administration's commitment to enhancing the efficiency of agricultural programs and ensuring that farmers are the primary beneficiaries of federal support.