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“The pause is a place of immense potential and power. Cultivating a relationship to the pause means cultivating a relationship to possibility.” – Octavia Raheem
Farmers and earth workers at an agricultural retreat walk together in evening silence. Photo by Jamie Johnson
Farmers & earth workers know about rhythms: rise and set of the sun and moon; warm and cold of the day and night; wet and dry of the Spring and Summer. Those of us that work in rural areas where quiet prevails, even sometimes hear the thud of our footsteps as we cross the grass, left and right….or the beating of our hearts as we push our physical limits, pump and rest.
A few years ago, in my work as an agricultural educator, I started getting curious about the rhythm of meetings, trainings, and classes. It often felt like they were consistently fast-paced and action-packed, with an assumption that there was never enough time to do or learn all that was needed. I wondered how they might feel differently if the educational design included more pauses – moments of silence that might offer rest for our minds and hearts. I yearned for intentional breathing room to hold the joys and sorrows present in the room. Along with the knowledge and skills we farmers and earth workers are eager to share with one another, I wanted open space to invite our imaginations to wander and play, giving rise to new possibilities.
Ella Cara Deloria, a Lakota writer and educator spoke of the importance of this in her writings “The Way of Silence”. She said “We Indians are not afraid of silence. In fact, for us, silence is more powerful than words. Our elders were trained in the ways of silence, and they handed over this knowledge to us… People should regard their words as seeds. They should sow them, and then allow them to grow in silence. Our elders taught us that the earth is always talking to us, but we should keep silent in order to hear her”
Today, in the Retreats and programs I lead for the agricultural community, one of our guiding Touchstones, or values, in how we relate while in conversation is “Trust and Learn from the Silence”. We ask that participants treat silence like a member of the group, allowing a pause after each person speaks. This ensures that we receive whatever was shared, without rushing in to react, agree, disagree or change the subject. In the pauses between, we gaze into the center of the circle in which we sit. Keeping our attention on the shared space in the middle of our circle helps us to remember that we are physically forming a container for the words each person speaks. The pauses enable the words to grow in our hearts and minds as we contemplate each person’s perspective and truth.
Ella Cara Deloria offers another important perspective in her teaching above, which is that there are many non-human voices ‘always talking to us’. Farmers know this well, attuning to bird song, listening to the earth crackle with fresh rain, or noticing the songs of the wind. But our teaching and learning venues are often indoors, sealed off from the web of life. Creating moments in our agricultural programs where we intentionally contemplate our interconnectedness to all things reminds us that we are part of an abundant, resilient ecosystem that is much greater than its individual parts.
So, what about Octavia Raheem’s words ““The pause is a place of immense potential and power. Cultivating a relationship to the pause means cultivating a relationship to possibility.” I have noticed that when our educational programs are fast-paced, we tend to be in reaction mode. We are trying to keep up, process all that is coming at us, and organize what we want to contribute to the conversation. When we pause, we offer participants a period of recovery. We may need time to recover from tension in the room or discomfort we’re experiencing. We surface to notice how we are feeling and what we genuinely want to contribute. With enough pauses, we become more present. We might even begin to imagine, create and dream.
This is a challenging time to be growing food and sustenance for ourselves, our families and our communities. To me, it feels more important than ever to pause, to receive one another with greater attention, tune in to the voices of the earth, imagine new ways and remember old ways. If you’re drawn to creating more pauses on your farm, or in your meetings and programs, you can learn more at our Small Farms Program Growing Together website, or join us for upcoming events. https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/growing-together/
The post The Immense Power of a Pause appeared first on Cornell Small Farms.
WASHINGTON, March 5, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people recovering from the impact of recent severe storms, flooding and straight-line winds may be eligible for food assistance through USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 12,600 households in 14 counties in Kentucky are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses.
Washington, D.C., Mar. 4, 2025 — Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered remarks to hundreds of local leaders at the National Association of Counties. There, she previewed her vision for restoring rural prosperity to America. She discussed the importance of the President’s efforts to rein in out-of-control government spending and federal overreach to return more power to the people. She also addressed the wildfires in the Carolinas and provided an update on the Department’s distribution of economic and disaster aid passed by Congress in December.
Denver, CO, March 3, 2025 –Yesterday evening, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered remarks at Commodity Classic, where she announced the Department’s plan to distribute the economic and disaster aid passed by Congress late last year. She also walked the trade floor and met with leaders of the four primary commodities represented at the event: corn, soybean, wheat, and sorghum.
Washington, D.C., Mar. 3, 2025—The U.S. Forest Service is actively responding to multiple wildfires reported over the weekend in North Carolina and South Carolina following a Red Flag Warning issued across the region. Dry conditions and downed timber from past storms have elevated wildfire risk, and response teams are engaging in initial containment efforts at this time. The U.S. Forest Service is monitoring the situation hourly and will send additional personnel as needed. Sec. Rollins plans to visit the affected area on Friday, conditions permitting.
Since January, the Trump Administration has frozen vast swathes of federal spending under a series of Executive Orders, including at the United States Department of Agriculture. Hundreds of thousands of lawful, signed, active contracts and grants – supporting critical conservation payments, farmer technical assistance, sustainable agriculture research, market infrastructure, and so much more, and representing billions of dollars in federal funding – are frozen, which threatens farms, jobs, and livelihoods in communities nationwide.
Federal courts have delivered ruling after ruling that the funding freeze must be lifted – but to date, the Administration has yet to act to unfreeze funding and with every passing week, the situation worsens: farmers and organizations are facing layoffs, work stoppages, and rising debt due to the federal government’s failure to honor its legally binding financial commitments.
Farmers, ranchers, and advocates are speaking out. In February, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) members hit Capitol Hill in force, holding nearly 150 meetings with lawmakers, emphasizing the urgent need to release owed payments. Farmers and advocates shared personal stories about how they have been left in limbo, unsure how to plan for the upcoming season or cover expenses. These stories deserve to be heard in this moment. Our coalition has been working tirelessly to elevate the voices of people directly affected, connecting policy issues to real-world consequences. Below is a sampling of recent media coverage.
Farmers, Advocates, and NSAC Speak Out
NBC News:
- Farmers hit by a federal funding freeze scramble to respond ahead of spring thaw
- Farmers Struggling Due to Funding Freeze
“Ang Roell, a farmer and beekeeper in Massachusetts, had planned to begin installing deer-proof fencing, mulch and an irrigation system for a recently planted orchard — an initiative supported by more than $30,000 in federal grants that are now on hold.
Without that money, Roell worries that when the chestnut trees and elderberry bushes begin to sprout leaves in just a few weeks, there will be nothing to stop deer from chewing up the baby leaves. And Roell said the farm will struggle to keep the plants regularly watered and weeded without the infrastructure it had been counting on.
“We risk losing the plants because we can’t keep up with the watering schedule,” Roell said. “The delay of time might not seem like a big deal for someone who is not a farmer. But it actually is.””
Des Moines Register: USDA lifts Trump freeze on some funding owed to farmers, vast majority remains on hold
“About 1,000 Iowa and Midwest farmers said this month they’re owed $11 million for conservation work they completed last year. The bulk of the money — $9.6 million — is owed to Iowa farmers, the Iowa Soybean Association said.
The Trump administration’s actions, part of a broad government review now underway, also have left in doubt another $86 million promised Iowa and Midwest farmers under a five-year “climate smart” agriculture initiative approved during the Biden administration. The soybean association said Friday it’s not learned if money in the programs it’s administrating are included.
Practical Farmers of Iowa said Friday the group is hopeful USDA will pay farmers for planting cover crops and other conservation work they’ve completed. But it’s still unclear when the federal government will pay the group for its work, a commitment that’s supposed to reach about $4.4 million this year.
Meanwhile, the Conservation Districts of Iowa, a nonprofit that provides farmers with technical expertise on conservation efforts statewide, has laid off 38 employees because of the spending freeze.”
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: A deal is a deal. Or at least it used to be
“Dan Spatz, owner of Conway-based Healthy Flavors Farm, said, “If the current contracts that have been signed on EQIP are in question, then I’ve already put deposits down on fulfilling my side of the contract and, yes, I potentially could be impacted.”
The contract he mentions was signed in May, and he has until December 2027 to complete construction on his project. It stands to reason that any delay could result in an inability to pay the bank, so to speak. Just because the government stopped paying doesn’t mean the banks stopped collecting.
“We used to say, ‘the full faith and credit of the U.S. government’ and when you sign a contract with someone in a country of laws, you expect that contract to be honored, especially if it’s by your government; that’s the disturbing thing here,” Mr. Spatz said.”
Civil Eats: Exclusive: DOGE Cancels Contract That Enables Farmer Payments, Despite $0 Savings
“DOGE’s own accounting shows that because the contractor had already been paid in full, canceling the contract resulted in $0 in taxpayer savings.
Smith-Brubaker reached out to House Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) today to share her concerns. “How will we look in the eyes of dairy farmers, providing the whole milk for which you’ve advocated, and tell them that, to save the government $0, we have to cancel work that would have brought them more stability and more business?” she asked.”
Additional CoverageCivil Eats:
- Farmers Say Climate-Smart Commodities Projects Are Crumbling
- Despite Cuts to DEI Initiatives, Food and Farm Advocates Say They Will Continue to Fight for Racial Justice
- Trump’s Funding Freeze Creates Chaos and Financial Distress for Farmers
Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Feb. 21, 2025: Sen. Tina Smith on federal aid freeze, USDA layoffs
Daily Yonder: ‘This Business Just Wouldn’t Exist’ – Farmer Says Federal Program Was Critical to Success
Hagstrom Report:
- NSAC to Rollins: Relieve and reverse pain, confusion
- Rollins releases some NRCS program funds, but groups want more
Grist: One senator’s lonely quest to make the farm bill more sustainable
WSKG NY: New York farmers continue to wait on frozen USDA funds
Newsmax: US Farmers in Dire Straits From Trump Spending Freeze
KTTN: Federal funding freeze leaves Missouri farmers struggling for aid
Public News Service/Kiowa County Press: Frozen funds hurting farmers in MO, nation
Iowa Public Radio: Trump’s freeze on federal funds leaves some farmers waiting in the cold
Farm Progress: Senate confirms Brooke Rollins to lead USDA
San Antonio Express News: Will Republicans Control of Congress Lead to Updated Ag Laws? Texas farmers hope so.
The Preamble: The Government Promised to Pay — Then it Didn’t
TriState Livestock News: Frozen Funding, Stalled Programs, Farm Bill Impacts: Farmers, Ranchers, and Advocates Elevate Urgent Priorities on Capitol Hill
Lancaster Farming: Pasa Sustainable Agriculture Executive Director Opposes Federal Grant Freeze
Pittsburg Post-Gazette: Pa. farmers feel funding pinch as federal freezes trigger labor and infrastructure instability
PBS: Farmers are feeling the weight of Trump policies
WPSU: Centre County residents protest against Trump administration and Elon Musk
NBC News: Farmers hit by a federal funding freeze scramble to respond ahead of spring thaw
WSKG NY: New York farmers continue to wait on frozen USDA funds
Providence Journal: Make good on the contract’: How Trump’s spending freeze has left RI farmers in a lurch
Farms.com: CalCAN Joins Farming Organizations from Around the Country in D.C. for NSAC’s 2025 Winter Meeting
The New Lede: USDA’s climate webpage purge breaks laws and hurts farmers, lawsuit alleges
The New York Times: Farmers Sue Over Deletion of Climate Data From Government Websites
Reuters: USDA review of University of Maine funding could hit PFAS, biofuel research
NSAC has been a leader in agricultural policy for more than 35 years and has been instrumental in helping to develop some of our nation’s most successful agricultural programs for conserving natural resources, advancing the next generation of farmers, supporting agricultural research, and creating sustainable market connections. To stay informed about this and other important issues, sign up for NSAC’s free e-newsletter!
The post Funding Freeze Impacts: Farmers and Organizations Speak Out appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
Washington, D.C., Feb. 27, 2025 — Following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement of new measures to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), elected leaders and industry stakeholders from around the country are applauding the five-pronged strategy.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins joined FOX News to outline the Department’s strategy to strengthen biosecurity, support farmers, and ensure affordable food prices for American families.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced Tom Schultz will serve as the 21st chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.
“Tom is the right person to lead the Forest Service right now, and I know he will fight every day to restore America’s national forests,” said Secretary Rollins. “Together, Tom and the incredible employees at the Forest Service will work to execute the agenda of President Donald J. Trump to make America’s forests healthy and productive again.”
The recent freeze to federal grants and loans has impacted countless federal programs and simultaneously left rural businesses and farmers in a lurch. Among the most impacted programs has been the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). As a result, farmers and businesses alike may be on the hook for millions of dollars of energy efficiency and energy independence improvements they have already purchased or installed.
Since its inception, REAP has funded tens of thousands of projects that empower farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses to reduce energy costs and move towards energy independence. However, the recent funding freeze has paused REAP funds even for those with a valid, legal contract.
This blog post takes a closer look at REAP’s investments from 2014 to 2025, highlighting their critical role in making long-lasting impacts on rural communities, and what stands to be lost if the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to withhold payments on signed contracts.
What is REAP?The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) offers grants and loan guarantees to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems. Administered by the Rural Development division within USDA, REAP helps farmers and rural businesses improve their bottom line by cutting energy costs and increasing energy efficiency.
Whether it is installing solar panels, upgrading irrigation systems, or modernizing heating and cooling equipment, these projects help reduce electricity consumption and increase energy independence, saving money that can be reinvested in the business. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, as previously reported by NSAC, boosted REAP’s funding, appropriating $820.25 million through FY2031 and increasing federal cost-share and maximum grant sizes for grant-based projects.
Between 2014 and 2025, REAP assisted approximately 17,026 farms and 32,710 rural small businesses to reduce energy costs and promote energy independence, creating approximately 2,600 new jobs and saving more than 4,700 existing jobs in rural America.
Every State Benefits from REAPREAP delivers tangible benefits to rural businesses and agricultural producers across the country. REAP has helped small businesses and farmers in every single state lower energy costs, improve resilience, move towards energy independence, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Pennsylvania ($83.4 million), Minnesota ($79.8 million), Illinois ($75 million), and Iowa ($74.6 million) are the largest recipients of REAP grants, but every state has benefited from the addition of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds to the program in 2023 and 2024.
The IRA has injected a boost into the oversubscribed REAP, creating specialized funding streams for renewable energy systems and efficiency improvements. Between 2023 and 2025, more than $1 billion in IRA funds supported 6,822 REAP projects, with renewable energy systems receiving the majority of allocations.
IRA funded REAP projects have driven $2.75 billion in rural economic development.
The additional funding for REAP from the IRA reached every state, reinforcing its broad national impact. Pennsylvania ($48.1 million), Iowa ($42.1 million), and Michigan ($41.6 million) received the largest amount of IRA-funded grants, demonstrating the program’s bipartisan benefits and its role in supporting rural businesses and agricultural producers nationwide.
The interactive map below shows the total REAP grants and loans awarded in each state from 2014 to 2025, as well as the total funded specifically by the IRA.
!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Driving Renewable Energy and Efficiency: A Deep Dive into the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)Between 2014 and 2025, REAP has invested over $4.8 billion across more than 19,000 grants and loan guarantees in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, spurring more than $14.7 billion of rural development invested in rural communities. REAP grants require matching funds from recipients, so for every dollar USDA invests in REAP grants, it generates $8.72 in total project spending and investment, amplifying the economic impact for rural communities (see Figure 1).
REAP funding grew significantly, spiking during the COVID-19 recovery years due to IRA funding, with 2024 marking a record $3.5 billion in total investments, $2.1 billion from grants and $1.4 billion from loan guarantees. Renewable energy systems like solar dominate REAP’s portfolio, with most awards granted to farms and small businesses. REAP remains a popular option for farmers and rural businesses for increasing resilience and lowering energy costs.
Figure 1: REAP Invests in Rural America A Period of Growth: Funding and Grant TrendsThe number of grants and loans that REAP supports remained relatively steady until 2023, when the number of awards more than doubled. This investment not only reduced energy expenses for farmers and small businesses but also strengthened rural energy independence by accelerating the adoption of renewable energy and efficiency upgrades.
Figure 2: The Number of REAP InvestmentsThe average REAP grant between 2014 and 2024 was $59,435.75, with significantly higher average grant sizes in 2023 and 2024 following the addition of IRA funds. The addition of these funds has allowed thousands more farms and rural businesses to enact cost-saving energy measures that work well for their operations. More than 8,362 farms received REAP grants funded by the IRA specifically. This significantly increased the number of farms that took advantage of the program to reduce their energy costs, become more energy independent, and enhance their long-term viability.
Figure 3: Average REAP Grant AmountsThe program’s primary focus has been the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans and Grants. This component has awarded the lion’s share of grants and has an average grant size of $88,444, higher than the $78,498 average for the Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development grants but less than the $220,109 average for the Technical Assistance grants.
Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans and Grants provides grants and loan guarantees to help rural businesses and farms install renewable energy systems (e.g., solar, wind, biomass, geothermal) or make energy efficiency improvements (e.g., upgraded insulation, lighting, HVAC systems, and irrigation systems). Grants can cover up to 50% of project costs.
Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development Grants provide grants to state, tribal, or local governments, universities, rural electric cooperatives, and other organizations to conduct energy audits and feasibility studies for rural businesses and farms. These grants help farmers and rural businesses assess opportunities for energy savings and renewable energy projects before development.
Figure 4: REAP Grants and Loans by Program Pathways Forward: Enhancing REAP’s ImpactREAP has delivered significant benefits to rural communities and farmers in every state, helping them cut energy costs, improve efficiency, and strengthen their businesses. Now, with additional support from the IRA, REAP has expanded its reach, proving its value and popularity as a critical tool for rural economic growth. Yet, the ongoing pause of all IRA payments is directly undermining this growth.
In the immediate term, USDA must urgently provide specificity and clarity for how it will release frozen funds and swiftly honor its legal obligations to farmers, businesses, and organizations by immediately releasing funding on all signed contracts.
In the longer term, continued investment in REAP is necessary to ensure farmers and small businesses can keep accessing these cost-saving opportunities. Opportunities also remain to improve upon the already successful program, such as moving away from the false solution of anaerobic digesters. As Congress debates the next farm bill, lawmakers must recognize REAP’s nationwide success and secure its future.
The post Rural Businesses, Farmers Lose While USDA’s Rural Energy Program is Frozen appeared first on National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2025 — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is embarking on a new era of effectiveness as we continue to move away from the status quo.
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