Farm Group Calls on Changes to USDA Environmental Funding

Mar 05, 2024

By Mark Moran

A farm advocacy group says large corporate agriculture producers are getting federal environmental safeguard funds that were intended for smaller operations.

The Inflation Reduction Act has provided $3 billion for conservation programs designed to shore up farm-related environmental safeguards - many focused on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs.

Farm Action President Angela Huffman said a recent shift in Biden administration policy has allowed money intended for small or medium-sized farmers, who've often been underserved by U.S. Department of Agriculture policies, to wind up in the hands of corporate CAFOs.

"They're already raking in a lot of taxpayer-funded subsidies," said Huffman. "So, we're really urging USDA to reconsider this recent decision."

The latest data show Montana is home to more than 120 CAFOs - just a fraction of the national total of more than 120,000, but significant in a state that has decreased environmental regulations.

Large-scale ag operators say they also are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly while meeting growing consumer demand for safe, high-quality foods.

Huffman said large ag operations have gotten money to process liquid waste from manure lagoons and to install anaerobic digesters, which remove methane from manure that corporations then sell as an energy source.

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Video: Drone Flight & Baling Success at Last!

Drone Flight & Baling Success at Last!

After weeks of rain delays and frustration, we finally have a reason to smile — it’s hay time again at Ewetopia Farms! In today’s episode, we head out to the fields where Arnie is baling hay, and I attempt my second drone flight to capture it all from the air. The drone still had some hiccups, but I managed to get some aerial footage of the baling process.

Back at the farm, the work doesn’t stop. Arnie brings the bales home, and the next critical step begins — wrapping and stacking the bales to make haylage. This process is essential for preserving feed for our sheep and ensures they have nutritious forage in the months ahead.

It’s a good day on the farm — the sun is out, the drone is flying (sort of!), and we’re making progress. Join us for a satisfying and productive day that brings a long-awaited sigh of relief to this year’s challenging hay season.

?? Let us know in the comments: Have you had to deal with weather delays this season?

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