Latest news with #HonorFarmerContractsAct
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Riley protecting Lisle dairy farmer betrayed by government
TOWN OF LISLE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Congressman Josh Riley says he has stepped in on behalf of a Lisle dairy farmer who was being betrayed by the federal government. Riley met with seventh-generation farmer Scott Glezen on wednesday. Glezen has 2,400 milking cows and about 2,000 calves on his farm in the Town of Lisle. He also grows 3,300 acres of corn and 2,300 of wheat. Glezen had entered into a five-year contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in which the USDA would pay him roughly $192,000 to plant winter wheat on a portion of his land. Winter wheat or rye is a cover crop that grows well in lower temperatures, allowing it to conserve soil and absorb rain in late fall and early spring. Riley suspects that because the contract referred to improving resilience to climate change, DOGE canceled the deal. 'In Upstate New York, when you make a promise to somebody, a handshake means something, and you keep your word. In Washington, these folks are so hell-bent on giving tax breaks to Wall Street that they want to break a contract with somebody like Scott so that they can pay for it. It is everything that is wrong with Washington and the opposite of what we believe here in upstate New York,' said Riley. Glezen says he had already laid out the money to plant the crops last fall and that they've done a great job absorbing all of the rain we've been receiving this spring. He says the grant is to protect the environment and doesn't benefit him financially. 'It's been really difficult for us to understand how politics creep into things like this. It's been puzzling to us. I have my own political beliefs, everybody has their own political beliefs. I don't know how sustainable practices and conservation practices become so political. It just surprises me,' said Glezen. The grant was recently reinstated after Riley addressed the House Agriculture Committee, demanding that the contract be honored. Riley has also introduced bipartisan legislation called the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, which would require the federal government to fulfill its obligations to small family farms. Sneaker Drive honors the life of Noah Farrelly Residents take home a piece of history as IBM buildings are demolished Riley protecting Lisle dairy farmer betrayed by government Musicians from around the world celebrate Ukraine with free concert Rapist who killed Binghamton man in hit and run crash sentenced to prison Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Angus King and Senate Democrats push for release of frozen federal farm funds
Mar. 31—Maine Sen. Angus King joined with Senate Democrats on Monday to introduce legislation that would force the Trump administration to release federal agricultural funding that has been withheld from farmers with signed contracts, including many in Maine. The Honor Farmers Contracts Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make all past due payments as quickly as possible, forbid it from cancelling agricultural contracts without proof of a contract violation and prohibit it from closing agricultural offices without providing notice and justification to Congress. "The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would ensure that Maine's farmers receive the federal funding from all signed agreements and contracts as quickly as possible to prevent any operations from having to shut down," King said. "This is a critical step to protect the Maine agricultural economy and food supply." Maine farmers are still waiting for the USDA to release about $12 million in contractually obligated conservation grants funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden's landmark climate legislation, despite a judge's order and USDA's promise to do so. Farmers in Brunswick, Dresden, Freeport, West Gardiner and Whitefield are waiting on federal grant funding to thaw and money from signed contracts to implement conservation practices ranging from improved soil health to carbon sequestration to be paid out as promised. The federal cuts were discussed at a Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association panel Friday. "What we've just learned (Friday) is that the USDA, even though they have said that IRA funds are unfrozen, and that the contracts are going to move forward, we are finding out they are still holding up those funds," said Sarah Alexander, MOFGA's executive director, on Friday. Without these funds, most Maine farmers couldn't afford these conservation programs, said Annie Watson, a first-generation dairy farmer in Whitefield who is the president of the Maine Dairy Industry Association. Just writing a manure management plan can cost up to $10,000, she said. As much as she wants to protect the environment, Watson admits the freeze makes her hesitant to sign a new USDA conservation contract to build cattle stream crossings on some newly acquired land that would protect the water quality of the Sheepscot River. "It's incredibly important that that water is protected," Watson said Friday. "If we go through all of these processes and at the end of it are not able to recoup any of the cost, it could absolutely tank our business. That's a hard gamble for folks to make." If not quickly made whole, some farms will be forced to make difficult financial decisions, or even close. Not all farms are facing a funding freeze, but bill supporters say almost all will be hurt by USDA program and staff cuts. The USDA fired 6,000 employees in February who worked on issues ranging from food security to invasive crop diseases. A judge ordered a 45-day stay on the terminations. "The economic sustainability of the Maine agricultural community requires constant change and innovation to remain competitive in this global marketplace," said Eric Veturini of the Agricultural Council of Maine. "USDA staffing and funding are all essential programs that support Maine farms." The bill is cosponsored by 16 Democratic senators, including the following from New England: Peter Welch of Vermont, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Mexico congressman partners with Sen. Cory Booker on legislation to help farmers
Mar. 27—A New Mexico congressman is partnering with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker on legislation to force the U.S. Department of Agriculture to honor its contracts with farmers and farming organizations. Booker, a Democrat, introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act on Thursday in the Senate, and Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., introduced a companion bill in the House to release withheld funding for signed contracts and agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The legislation comes after the USDA paused payments for some programs and canceled others over the last two months. Vasquez's office pointed specifically to a Community Food Project grant frozen for Frontier Food Hub in Silver City and Santa Fe-based Quivira Coalition's Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities funding getting frozen. "When farmers sign contracts, they expect the government to follow through. It's that simple. This bill will immediately unfreeze critical funding, ensure farmers are paid for their work, and reopen essential USDA offices that were shuttered without notice," Vasquez said in a statement. The bill is one of several recently introduced that draw attention to the ways the Trump administration has upset government norms, including a bill Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., introduced Thursday with Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., to ensure that special government employees like tech billionaire Elon Musk are subject to transparency and accountability requirements. The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would require USDA to pay farmers all past-due payments as quickly as possible and prohibit the agency from canceling contracts with farmers or organizations that assist farmers unless they fail to meet the conditions of the contract. It would also prohibit USDA from closing Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices and Rural Development Service Centers without 60 days notice and justification to Congress. Two county Farm Service Agency offices in New Mexico have lease terminations listed on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website in Clovis and Roswell, but the Curry County Farm Service Agency in Clovis and the Chaves County Farm Service Agency in Roswell are still operating. USDA did not immediately provide an explanation for the offices' inclusion on the DOGE site. The legislation has support from at least 352 farm and food groups, including more than a dozen based in New Mexico, such as Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network, New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association, Shiprock Traditional Farmers Cooperative and New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council. "As the most productive season of the year approaches, farmers and rural communities cannot afford further delays — without urgent action to reinstate these contracts, farms and organizations risk laying off workers, missing the planting season, or shutting down entirely," a letter from the hundreds of farming organizations reads.
