Urban Ag News

"Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has moved to cancel or freeze trillions in federal funding. That includes billions in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. William Brangham reports on how the funding freeze is affecting farmers." - PBS Interesting comments: Hannah Smith-Brubaker of Pasa Sustainable Agriculture : "if we're serving farmers, listen to the farmers. This is what farmers want." Scott Munro of Munro Farms: "Maybe they will calm down and realize some of the things they did are hurting people who a lot of people in that industry voted for them." " USDA continues to review IRA Funding...to ensure that programs are focused on supporting farmers and ranchers, not DEIA programs." Brooke Rollins - Secretary of Agriculture. https://lnkd.in/giyEx-_V

Another article highlighting changes in funding at the USDA. (We are getting multiple articles emailed to us each day.) As reported by POLITICO and Marcia Brown - The Agriculture Department has axed two programs that gave schools and food banks money to buy food from local farms and ranchers, halting more than $1 billion in federal spending. We thought we would hear more comments from upset industry leaders, but to be honest...its much quieter than we thought it would be. Any ideas why? Is it not as big as of a deal as these articles make it out to be? Is our industry not as involved in feeding our communities as we claim to be? Full article here: https://lnkd.in/eWAJuACv

In doing research for a different piece we came across this study from the The Brookings Institution. Title: Is government too big? Reflections on the size and composition of today’s federal government Key take aways: The federal government’s workforce has remained largely unchanged in size for over 50 years, even as the U.S. population has grown by 68% and federal spending has quintupled, highlighting the critical role of technology and contractors in filling the gap. Contractors now outnumber federal employees more than two to one, creating a “blended workforce” that raises pressing questions about accountability, efficiency, and the boundaries of “inherently governmental” functions. For the full research go here: https://lnkd.in/e9ag938K

USA March 15, 2025 - President Trump signed into law a measure to keep the government open through the end of September 2025. Important to our industry: The new CR increases spending for the military and defense while Congress allowed and supported decreasing budgets at the USDA and U.S. Small Business Administration. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting two federal programs that provided about $1 billion in funding to schools and food banks to buy food directly from local farms, ranchers and producers. - Budget cuts at the SBA are projected to cause longer wait times loan approvals, reduced disaster assistance for small businesses devastated by hurricanes, wildfires, and other crises, and fewer technical resources for small business owners who already face barriers to funding. https://lnkd.in/gnU28-5e

As a friend and fan of the Growcer we loved reading this article. Here are the highlights: St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI) got its start as a social enterprise with a focus on the fishery. The St. Anthony-based organization was involved in not just fishing but in programs and research and development initiatives, but when SABRI’s fishing quota was reduced, CEO Hon. Christopher Mitchelmore, E.C.N.L. knew they had to develop a good diversification strategy if SABRI was to continue to meet its mandate. Now, SABRI has set its sights on food security and sustainability with its latest venture, SABRI Farms. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gtGsgZJg Article written by Diane Crocker.

Just got this notification from Reuters. The roller coaster ride of emotion continues for farmers across the country. Why do "we" think it is ok to put these small business owners through this type of stress? And why are we ok with being governed this way? Regardless of the type of small or large commercial horticulture or agriculture business one operates its stressful and normally based off low profit margins. Once you have a contract with the US government you should not need to stress of it being cancelled without cause. "The sum represents a tiny sliver of program funding the USDA suspended after the White House's broad freeze of federal loans and grants last month. Although the administration rescinded the memo ordering the freeze and it has been blocked in court, a U.S. judge has said the government was still withholding funds." PJ Huffstutter full article can be read here: https://lnkd.in/gxY5eHx6

We saw this article in The Produce News this morning. We think the question is being asked in correctly. Try, "AI is here, it is ready for produce."

Just received an update from AmericanHort. Thought our readers would want to read the parts on the USDA and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Trump administration’s 2025 budget proposal includes significant cuts to the USDA as part of a broader plan to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion over the next decade. A draft from the House Budget Committee proposes: -Cutting $230 billion from the Agriculture Committee’s allocation, which could impact programs like SNAP. -Freeze on federal loans and grants has disrupted programs such REAP, leaving farmers and businesses uncertain about their financial future. House Republicans are having difficulty moving this budget with the slim margin of 218-215, and they can only lose one vote. The Senate confirmed Brooke Rollins as USDA Secretary last Thursday, tasking her with overseeing an agency with over 100,000 employees responsible for farming programs, food benefits, and school meals. The EPA is facing major budget cuts under the Trump administration, with its 2024 funding reduced by nearly $1 billion to $9.2 billion, while the House recently passed legislation proposing a 20% budget cut ($1.8 billion). Clean air programs could see a 60% reduction, the Council on Environmental Quality an 80% cut, and environmental justice programs may be eliminated entirely. Additionally, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin revoked $20 billion in clean energy and transportation grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, citing oversight concerns. The administration has also laid off over 1,000 EPA employees hired during the Biden era, many of whom worked on climate, air quality, and environmental regulations, prompting legal challenges from federal employee unions. These actions mark a significant shift in environmental policy, prioritizing budget reductions and financial oversight. A less-resourced EPA may struggle to support programs that benefit the agriculture and horticulture industries. Such programs include the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), which regulates and approves new pesticides to ensure they are safe for human health and the environment while supporting agricultural productivity. This office is crucial for our industry to help maintain access to essential pest management tools, ensuring plant health, regulatory compliance, and market stability. The long-term implications will depend on how effectively the remaining EPA workforce can balance environmental protection with industry needs.?

So what really is a warranty? A warranty is a (legal) promise by a manufacturer that the product or service will meet certain standards. It’s typically included in the product’s price (we’ll come back to this point). Depending on terms, a warranty may cover repairs, replacements or refunds. Some warranties offer full coverage, while others have limitations. Ultimately, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to understand what’s included. Christopher Higgins explores the wide variety of warranties and their values in this article - https://lnkd.in/gC_kPZCe Conclusion: The reality is, you can’t have the best quality and the best service at the lowest price. And if you do, it won’t last. Eventually, the company offering the warranty will be forced into a financial position where they simply can’t continue.

Does anyone in our network attend the California Small Farm Conference? Would love to learn more about it. https://lnkd.in/g9aviyrP