Farmers say the federal funding freeze is halting growth and derailing their planning and young farmers say they face unique challenges.
For young and beginner farmers, federal funding is critical as they shore up their first few years of production. That’s money farmers were planning to use to do things like put up foundational fencing, pay farm workers, or build their first high tunnel – some farmers saying these are projects they’ve already paid into and were waiting for reimbursement.
Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke to some young farmers in the region to understand what’s at stake and how they’re struggling to make critical decisions this spring as billions of dollars in promised federal payments remain frozen by the Trump administration.
Image: Iris Gillingham of Gael Roots Community Farm in SUllivan County, NY, says the federal funding freeze “has been just a huge cyclone through agriculture, especially this time of year, because farmers are planning for their next season, and some farmers are still waiting on reimbursements from the previous season. And one of the things about our food system in the United States is that it is very much held up by federal funding.” (Credit: Iris Gillingham)