For many years, environmental and agricultural organizations have advocated for the adoption of innovative conservation programs by Congress, the USDA, and farmers. Progress in these areas has historically been modest, with some lawmakers consistently attempting to diminish conservation initiatives. Nevertheless, these programs have not only persisted but have also seen significant growth.
The American Farm Bureau Federation, which represents the largest segment of the farming community, has traditionally resisted acknowledging climate change, often opposing climate action and supporting official positions that challenge the widely accepted view of human-induced climate change. This attitude has largely been echoed among its members, most of whom are American farmers.
However, the increasing impacts of climate change, manifested in extreme weather events, have begun to influence the perception of farmers across the country. Alongside this shift, funding for climate-related conservation programs has also increased, prompting a change in mindset among some agricultural stakeholders.
“Initially, there was concern about how climate policy would affect their operations,” said Bonnie. “They often felt judged for their practices, but we proposed collaboration instead.”
Concerns arise, however, as the Trump administration’s actions, including rollbacks and funding freezes, threaten to reverse recent advancements in these initiatives, according to advocacy groups and former officials from the USDA.
“We have developed a robust framework and solved significant issues,” Bonnie noted. “The current administration is jeopardizing all of this progress.”
“It took considerable time to acknowledge that climate change was a reality and that farmers could contribute to solutions by creating more resilient agricultural practices,” remarked Stillerman. “The Inflation Reduction Act supported these initiatives financially, and now everything is under threat.”
Despite the potential setbacks, farmer Burk intends to persist with conservation and carbon-storing strategies on his Michigan farm, even in the absence of USDA funds.
He believes, however, that many neighboring farmers may abandon conservation efforts if government support is uncertain. “There are many people struggling just to manage their expenses, from fueling their tractors to planting crops,” he explained. “The last thing they want is to engage in a lengthy process with NRCS that could result in payment only a year later. That is simply not feasible.”
This story originally appeared on Inside Climate News.
