Action Alert: Ask Congress to Honor and Expand Farm Conservation Contracts

MFAI
3 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 11 hours ago

Last September, our Iowa County Uplands Watershed Group gathered for a pasture walk at the farm of conservation leader Paul Dietmann to learn more about working with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Across the country, farmers rely on federal NRCS programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to invest in systems that improve soil health, protect water resources, sequester carbon, and ultimately strengthen rural economies. Grazing, for instance, is one of the best ways to use land in a fashion that reduces emissions, mitigates regional flooding, and prevents runoff - all while improving farm profitability. To learn more, watch the video from our field day below.

At the time of the pasture walk in the video (Nov 2024), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) had expanded funding for these conservation programs to $20 billion over 10 years. Even for farms that weren’t being paid directly from IRA funds, the expanded pool of money enabled NRCS to fund more farm projects overall.

Unfortunately, since the new administration has taken office, this critical funding has been frozen, terminated, or is under threat. Americans may be divided on politics, but we all know that the nation can't afford to lose more farmers. The 2022 Ag Census showed the number of farms lost per year, on average, was about 35,433.*

That’s why we’re asking you to speak up for the Honor Farmer Contracts Act.

The act would:

Require USDA to honor signed contracts and agreements.
Require USDA to make past due payments quickly.
Prohibit USDA from canceling contracts with farmers or organizations unless there is a breach of terms or conditions.
Prohibit the closure of USDA agency offices unless a 60-day notice is provided.

This is about more than funding. It’s about public trust, personal livelihoods, and the future of American agriculture. As Paul and others show us, regenerative practices like managed grazing deliver significant environmental and economic returns—helping farmers make a decent living while saving public money over time. Cutting farmers' conservation funding now will raise long-term infrastructure repair costs for local communities, as well as state and federal governments.

Ready to speak up for farmers, farm conservation, and the Honor Farmer Contracts Act?

Here are some helpful resources to help you RIGHT NOW and in the future:

>FIND Your Federal Representatives

>CRAFT A LETTER to a Federal Representative

>PLAN A CALL to a Federal Representative

>Social Media Share Kit - Share your support and TAG your elected officials!

>DONATE to Michael Fields Agricultural Institute and help more farmers navigate these difficult times through research, education and policy work

>SIGN UP for future Institute Action Alerts

If you are a farmer or landowner and have experienced a terminated contract, delayed re-imbursement, or other harm from frozen federal conservation funding, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US AND SHARE YOUR STORY. Email Chuck Anderas at canderas@michaelfields.org.

We face an uncertain agricultural future, but with sustained public investment and community leadership like Paul's, farms and farm communities can thrive. Help us hold our elected representatives accountable to farmers—and to the land we all share.

Download and share these graphics on your socials - tag your representatives!

For more Honor Farmer Contracts shareables, click HERE.