Rollins overhauls, renames climate-smart commodities initiative
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has renamed and changed the rules of a $3.1 billion program testing the ability of a variety of conservation practices to produce climate-smart commodities.
A USDA release said the Trump administration was canceling the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program, which it called a “Biden-era climate slush fund,” but said it would allow projects to continue if they can show that “a significant amount of the federal funds awarded will go to farmers.”
“We continue to support farmers and encourage partners to ensure their projects are farmer-focused or re-apply to continue work that is aligned with the priorities of this administration,” says USDA’s press release, issued today.
The new Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative will be aligned “with current Trump Administration priorities,” USDA’s release says.
Specifically, the release said:
- A minimum of 65% of federal funds must go to producers;
- Grant recipients must have enrolled at least one producer as of Dec. 1, 2024; and
- Grant recipients must have made a payment to at least one producer as of 12/31/2024.
Funds for the PCSC, which involves more than 130 projects funded by the Commodity Credit Corp., have been frozen while the administration reviews the program.
The PCSC “was largely built to advance the green new scam at the[non-governmental organizations], not American farmers,” Rollins said in the release.
“The concerns of farmers took a back seat during the Biden administration,” Rollins continued. “During my short time as secretary, I have heard directly from our farmers that many of the USDA partnerships are overburdened by red tape, have ambiguous goals, and require complex reporting that push farmers onto the sidelines. We are correcting these mistakes and redirecting our efforts to set our farmers up for an unprecedented era of prosperity.”
Robert Bonnie, who managed the development of the initiative as undersecretary for farm production and conservation programs under the Biden administration, welcomed the department’s decision to allow projects to continue under modified rules.
“I’m pleased Secretary Rollins has agreed to extend Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities, largely intact albeit under another name. Don’t let the bombastic statement fool you, Secretary Rollins learned from producers just how popular and effective this program is,” he told Agri-Pulse.
Asked about the impact of the new rules, Bonnie said, “USDA placed a high priority on money going to farmers when we approved the projects. I’m concerned about smaller, innovative projects that may have higher administrative costs.”
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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.