USDA, Beginning Farmers, and Broken Promises

The Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program was slated to bring millions of dollars into Iowa, while supporting new farmers. Contracts were signed, fellows quit their jobs, and we were off to the races. Until suddenly, we weren’t. USDA abruptly pulled the funding in March with two days notice, deferring the dreams of new farmers like Lawrencia Rogers and eliminating the jobs created to help them.

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Voices

Lawrencia Rogers—Farmer

Jason Grimm—Executive Director of Iowa Valley RC&D

Katie Das—State Coordinator at the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT)

Breanna Horsey—Executive Director at SILT

At the Iowa Farm Table is brought to you by the Iowa Food System Coalition. Edited by John Hogeland and Tommy Hexter. Photo: Fellow Lawrencia and Farm Manager Malik doing tractor work at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm. Courtesy Iowa Valley RC&D.

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