Ag News

USDA cancels climate partnership programs

On April 14, the USDA announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC).  Select projects may continue if it is demonstrated that a significant amount of the federal funds awarded will go to farmers. The USDA indicated it will continue to support farmers and encourage partners to ensure their projects are farmer-focused or reapply to continue work that is aligned with current federal priorities.

Additionally, the USDA transitioned the PCSC initiative into the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative and has identified changes to align the initiative with current federal priorities. USDA will review existing grant agreements based on three criteria:

• A minimum of 65% of federal funds must go to producers;

• Grant recipients must have enrolled at least one producer as of 12/31/2024; and

• Grant recipients must have made a payment to at least one producer as of 12/31/2024.

USDA will contact current partners individually to provide information about their future participation. USDA will honor all eligible expenses incurred prior to April 13. This reform effort will utilize existing funding, with no new funding made available for these partnerships.

It was unclear at press time how the changes will affect commodity-specific sustainability programs.

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