30-04-2025
Farmers seeking answers regarding federal cuts and frozen funds
RAINELLE, WV, ALDERSON, WV (WVNS) — Farmers are still reeling from the total loss of the funding to schools and food banks that allowed those organizations to buy fresh, local produce.
Now, more federal funding has been frozen and farmers want answers.
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The most recent program to have its funding frozen is the Labor Stabilization and Protection Program through the United States Department of Agriculture.
The LSP allows farmers to hire H-2A workers, foreign workers who are allowed to come to the U.S. temporarily to perform agricultural labor.
Jennifer Gilkerson, an owner of Sunset Berry Farm in Alderson, signed a contract that would allow her to recoup the costs of participating in this program.
Now that those funds have been frozen, however, she said she is on the hook for the full amount.
'Between paying the labor agency and the actual cost of bringing in H-2A workers, our debt that we have accrued is about $50,000. Which is the same amount that the government contract was for. So, they were essentially supposed to cover the costs that we don't normally incur,' said Gilkerson.
Gilkerson said she and other local farmers have been calling and writing to their representatives in both the federal and state governments since the funding cuts began.
Trey Yates, owner of Greenbrier Dairy, is one of those farmers calling out for answers.
Though, he said, the answers are not forthcoming.
'Did every farmer vote the same way? No. But yet, we have representation at a state level, and even a federal level, and we're not being represented. Even if they would respond to our calls, saying, this is never coming back, figure something else out, that'd be better than hearing nothing at all,' said Yates.
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Yates said he is having to make drastic changes to his production methods and business model just to try and stay afloat during summer.
If nothing changes, he does not know what fall will bring.
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