Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the release of approximately $20 million to farmers with contracts for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The USDA previously paused funding due to a review of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allocations.

In alignment with White House directives, Secretary Rollins will honor contracts already made directly to farmers. The $20 million reflects the first round of funds released.

Further announcements are expected as the USDA continues its review to ensure taxpayer dollars from the IRA are invested in supporting farmers and ranchers instead of unrelated initiatives such as DEIA or far-left climate programs.

Rollins also criticized the previous administration’s policies of over-regulation and extreme environmental programs. She said hundreds of millions of dollars were earmarked for distribution over eight years. Some of this funding went to programs not related to agriculture. Rollins concluded, “We will honor our commitments to American farmers and ranchers, and we will ensure they have the support they need to be the most competitive in the world.”

Read here to learn more about the USDA’s review of IRA funding here.