The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy reports nearly three quarters of farmers across the country who applied for two types of U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs are turned away.

While there has been progress, the approval ratings for major ag-producing states were the nation's lowest.

USDA data showed between 2010 and 2020, only 31% of farmers who applied to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and only 42% of farmers who applied to the Conservation Stewardship Program were awarded government conservation program money. Between the two, nearly 1.1 million farmers were denied government funds.

Ava Auen-Ryan, farm and environment organizer for the group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, said a majority of the conservation money goes to factory-style farms for things such as manure management, leaving out smaller farmers.

"Smaller to mid-size farmers who use that money for things like fencing for rotational grazing or other ways to make the most out of their pasture land without stressing it to breaking point, they don't get that money when it all goes to those factory farms," Auen-Ryan explained.

Auen-Ryan pointed out the two programs are intended to help farmers pay for environmental improvements on their farms, including small, one-time projects such as planting grass seed in waterways to prevent erosion, and for bigger projects such as water quality or wildlife habitat enhancement.

Auen-Ryan added small to mid-size farm advocates are calling on Congress to double spending on conservation programs in the next Farm Bill, which currently stands at between $6 billion and $6.5 billion, as well as increasing oversight and assistance to be sure the programs work.

"And if we do that, we could have a huge impact as far as tackling the climate crisis and also preserving independent farmers," Auen-Ryan contended.

Debate on the Farm Bill is scheduled to begin in September.

State grants could bring high-speed internet access to nearly 15,000 Washingtonians.

The State Broadband Office is awarding $121 million to 19 projects largely designed to ensure broadband for rural communities.

Director of the Washington State Broadband Office Mark Vasconi said an even greater number of communities will need to be served after this round of grants.

"We received over $300 million worth of requests," said Vasconi. "So, I think that shows the need that's out there and, frankly, we were glad that we were able to award the projects that we did."

The state has a goal of ensuring every Washingtonian has access to 150 megabits per second speed internet by 2028.

According to the latest Federal Communications Commission broadband map, 93% of Washingtonians have access to internet with speeds of at least 100 megabits per second.

Vasconi said internet availability will equalize access to services for the people who live in Washington.

"You have access to services, access to information that you otherwise would not have," said Vasconi. "It's really essential in order to conduct your daily life, whether that be health care information, educational information, banking information."

Funds are going to counties and electric co-ops - as well as the Spokane Tribe, which is receiving about $3.4 million. The state is funding the project with investments from the federal Coronavirus Capital Project Fund.




get more stories like this via email

Young farmers in the United States face extensive structural barriers affecting their mental health, according to a new survey from the National Young Farmers Coalition.

A lack of affordable health care and housing as well as access to land is taking a toll on farmers just starting their career, as well as farmers of color.

Jac Wypler, farmer mental-health director for the National Young Farmers Coalition, said mental decline can lead to poor decision-making and higher risk of injury.

"Farmer mental health truly can lead to farms being less viable," Wypler pointed out. "Farmers being less capable to do the work of the farm, as well as leaving the farming profession."

Wypler noted low pay for farmworkers and even food insecurity are also leading to farmer burnout. Advocates have created a bilingual mental health hotline for farmers at 1-800-FARM-AID and are cultivating a growing network of young farmer leaders working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

The 2018 Farm Bill was the first to direct funding toward farmers' mental health and advocates are hoping the 2023 Farm Bill will offer even more.

Wypler acknowledged Americans' appreciation for farmers and the challenges they face grew during the pandemic, but stressed continued support is needed.

"A functioning healthy food system requires healthy farmers and farmworkers, and that includes their mental health," Wypler contended.

Cultivemos, a network for farmer and farmworker well-being in the Northeast, has regranted federal dollars to more than ninety organizations working to improve farmers' mental health through training and peer mentoring.


get more stories like this via email

Congress is gathering input as it looks to reauthorize the Farm Bill. Voices from Minnesota's agricultural sector hope independent family farms get a fair shake.

The Farm Bill covers a range of components tied to the nation's food system. It's updated every five years, and the current plan expires this fall.

Southeastern Minnesota dairy farmer Bonnie Haugen recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers about what she and other advocates want to see in the funding package. She said Congress needs to shift more support to smaller operations, noting that too many monopolies have eroded the presence of family farms, including in her area.

"When we bought these acres, 30 years ago this year, there was about 12 dairy farms within about a three-mile radius," she said. "As of last March, we are the last ones."

The Minnesota-based Land Stewardship Project said a big help would be keeping provisions about enforcing antitrust laws. Small farmers also want full funding of conservation programs, arguing that those dollars shouldn't go to factory farms that may not be as motivated to preserve soil health. Some elements of the emerging plan have bipartisan support, but there are still political differences within the debate.

Sarah Goldman, policy organizer for the Land Stewardship Project, said more Minnesota farmers are nearing retirement age, and predicted a huge generational transfer of land in the coming years. She said Congress has an opportunity to create a better path for those who want to carry on the spirit of family farms.

"If we aren't able to facilitate land access for beginning farmers," she said, "then there aren't going to be folks who are able to continue on and support their communities, and feed their communities."

Her organization believes there should be more support for incubators and cooperative farms. It has said that could boost access to infrastructure, equipment and training for aspiring producers, and also create more opportunities for farmers of color.


get more stories like this via email