By Blake Jackson
As Wisconsin’s planting season begins, farmers are faced with growing uncertainty due to cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and fluctuating tariffs on international trade. These changes have created a new set of challenges for farmers, making it harder to plan for the future.
Under the Trump administration, the USDA ended two important programs that supported local farmers and food banks. One of these programs, the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, was used in over 40 states, helping schools purchase food from local farmers. The second program, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, was active in all 50 states, providing up to $900 million in funding to support local food initiatives.
“Right now, we’re trying to pivot and find other markets,” said Becker. “Since it’s really unclear if [the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program] will make it into the state budget [or] if any federal programs will get reinstated, we’re just trying to make the best decisions we can on a week-to-week basis.”
“As farmers, we know the weather will be uncertain. We know there are things we can and cannot control. But being in a landscape where we aren’t sure what’s happening on a week to week basis, it is hard to make responsible and consistent economic choices,” said Becker. “It’s difficult to be a good business person when you don’t have clear information.”
In addition to the federal cuts, fluctuating tariffs also pose a challenge for farmers. Jerry Clark, a regional crops and soils educator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explained that while an increase in the supply of agricultural products might suggest lower prices, the rising costs of marketing and transportation could offset this. “If it’s going to cost farmers more to [produce] these crops, net farm income drops. Therefore, across the board, there’s less dollars out there to spread around,” said Clark. “You see the market price drop, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to drop what you buy on the shelf, because of all of these other pieces.”
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Wisconsin, Business