FLOW has joined a coalition of over 350 farm, food, and rural organizations calling for the passage of the Honor Farmer Contacts Act, which would order the USDA to unfreeze contracts that were targeted by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. The contracts were related to local and organic food programming, and many farmers and small businesses are now waiting for the USDA to pay for completed work.
Examples of critical projects that have been stymied by the haphazard delays and freezes include:
- Rural infrastructure investments that will help farmers get products from the field to market;
- Payments to farmers who planted cover crops to reduce erosion and improve their soil health;
- Creation of market opportunities for farmers to sell more of what they grow through regional food systems that build resiliency in our food supply;
- Assistance for young and beginning farmers and ranchers to access land, supporting the development of the next generation of farmers; and,
- Investments in energy efficiency that will quickly lower energy bills for farmers facing rising input costs.
Farming practices and food systems also have big impacts on watersheds and climate resiliency. Programs that help farmers and organizations improve soil health, foster organic and regenerative farming, and strengthen local food networks pay big dividends – not just to farmers and human nutrition and health, but in clean, safe water for drinking, fishing, and recreation.
The uncertainty around when payments will be made has forced farmers – who often operate on tight margins – to cut staff and change planting strategies, just as the most productive season of the year approaches. The legislation would require the USDA to pay farmers for all past due amounts as quickly as possible.
The legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), whose statement reads “USDA’s refusal to pay what is owed to farmers and the organizations that support them is theft, plain and simple. It’s a critical time of year for farmers and ranchers. They should be doing what they love – feeding our communities, not worrying about unpaid contracts. This legislation will fix that by forcing USDA and the Trump Administration to hold up their end of the deal.”
