Ag Policy Blog

The American Soybean Association said late Friday that it and other agriculture groups want the Agriculture Department to resume payments under the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program (PCSC).

Noting that "grant recipients have been notified recently that funds associated with the PCSC program have been paused while the new Trump administration reviews various grant programs," ASA President Caleb Ragland, a soy farmer from Kentucky, said of the freeze, "The American Soybean Association and other agriculture groups think it is important for USDA to honor the contractual commitments made to farmers and recipient organizations who are administering these grants."

"Under the grants, farmers have implemented practices to make their operations more resilient and improve environmental outcomes. These projects are integral to the continued success of the agriculture industry by advancing efficiencies in our farming practices and tapping potential new markets while also improving environmental outcomes."

ASA added, "PCSC provides funding to projects that implement resilient farming practices, measure and verify the resulting greenhouse gas benefits, and create market opportunities for climate-smart products."

"The outcomes of PCSC projects go beyond climate benefits: Over the course of several planting seasons, farmers can see improved soil quality and improvements to overall farming resiliency, which bolsters the productivity of U.S. soybean farmers well into the future," ASA said.

ASA said that, since the program's inception in February 2022, "USDA has invested $3.1 billion in 141 selected projects," although that is the total amount that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack took from the Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA's line of credit at the Treasury, to launch the program.

It is unclear how much money has gone out to the Partnership lead partners who distribute the money to smaller partners who make payments to farmers.

USDA's press office has not responded to questions from DTN. However, in a Washington Post article over the weekend, USDA's press office issued a statement:

In a statement, an Agriculture Department spokesperson said the Trump administration "rightfully has asked for a comprehensive review of all contracts, work, and personnel across all federal agencies."

"Anything that violates the President's Executive Orders will be subject for review," the statement said. "The Department of Agriculture will be happy to provide a response to interested parties once Brooke Rollins is confirmed [as secretary of agriculture] and has the opportunity to analyze these reviews."

See, "USDA Freezes Conservation Funds, Other Programs, Leaving Some Farmers in Financial Limbo," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

FAS: USDA Food Aid Programs Continue

Amid uncertainty about the future of U.S. Agency for International Development international food aid programs, the Agriculture Department's Foreign Agricultural Service said late Friday that USDA food aid is continuing through the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Childhood Nutrition Program and the Food for Progress Program.

"Projects supported by McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress help feed people around the globe while showcasing the abilities of U.S. farmers and creating demand for U.S. agricultural goods," Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley said in a news release.

Illinois Prof: 19 Land-Grant Innovation Labs to Close Due to USAID Cuts

Nineteen innovation labs at land-grant universities across the country are closing because the Trump administration has stopped the distribution of U.S. Agency for International Development foreign aid, a University of Illinois professor said in a post.

"Today is a dark day when once there were so many winners," wrote Peter Goldsmith, a professor at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and director of the Soybean Innovation Lab, which will close by April 15.

Mark Becker, president of the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities, wrote congressional leaders, "APLU is deeply concerned that the freeze in operations of USAID and State Department-funded grants and programs pursuant to the executive order, 'Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,' is having an immediate and deleterious impact on the vital work of public research universities in furtherance of national interests."

"I respectfully request your assistance in ensuring Congress' intent with appropriations is met by the administration and public research universities' global work funded by the U.S. government receives expedited review and soon resumes," Becker wrote.

Peanut Paste Provider to USAID Describes Ups and Downs of Week

Navyn Salem, the founder and CEO of Edesia Nutrition, which makes a peanut paste that the U.S. Agency for International Development has used to treat the most severe cases of malnutrition, has sent supporters an account of her company's experience with President Trump's January 27 executive orders to stop distributing foreign aid.

Because "any interruption in the production and shipping of Plumpy'Nut meant children's lives lost and time was ticking," Salem contacted the news media and the decision affecting her company was reversed.

"Did our whole world get turned upside down and then get put back together again?," Salem asked. "To be honest, I simply don't know."

"And what will tomorrow bring? Your guess is as good as mine. One thing is for sure -- we will never stop fighting for our mission because the foods we make are not a 'nice to have,' they are the equivalent to penicillin for malnourished children."

Salem asked supporters to make donations to her company.

See, https://us3.campaign-archive.com/…

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton contributed to this report.

Jerry Hagstrom can be reached at jhagstrom@nationaljournal.com

Follow him on social platform X @hagstromreport

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