The U.S. Department of Agriculture has frozen farmer funding for some environmental conservation programs while it conducts a review. Reuters’ P.J. Huffstutter and Leah Douglas reported that some of the money that has been frozen is tied to environmental conservation programs funded by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation included approximately $19.5 billion for farm programs over 10 years.

This move has created uncertainty for farmers. The American Soybean Association (ASA) said growers were notified that payments associated with the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program were suspended. This program was anticipated to invest $3.1 billion in 141 projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers would receive grants for practices such as no-till and cover crops. The ASA said the USDA should honor the contract it made with farmers.

The president of the National Farmers Union Rob Larew told the Senate Agriculture Committee last Wednesday that many farmers reported not receiving expected conservation payments from the USDA.

Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton said that every Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee joined Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar to send a letter to USDA Acting Secretary Gary Washington. The letter requests information on actions the USDA has taken to pause payments or terminate obligations. It also seeks to clarify the legal basis for pausing or terminating the funding.

Read more about the freeze on conservation program funding here.