U.S. soybean farmers are urging USDA to resume processing of payments to farmers and grant recipients under contracts made by USDA under the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program (PCSC). Grant recipients have been notified recently that funds associated with the PCSC program have been paused while the new Trump administration reviews various grant programs.

ASA President Caleb Ragland, soy farmer from Kentucky, said of the freeze, “The American Soybean Association and other agriculture groups think it is important for USDA to honor the contractual commitments made to farmers and recipient organizations who are administering these grants. Under the grants, farmers have implemented practices to make their operations more resilient and improve environmental outcomes. These projects are integral to the continued success of the agriculture industry by advancing efficiencies in our farming practices and tapping potential new markets while also improving environmental outcomes.”

Since the program’s inception in Feb. 2022, USDA has invested $3.1 billion in 141 selected projects. PCSC provides funding to projects that implement resilient farming practices, measure and verify the resulting greenhouse gas benefits, and create market opportunities for climate-smart products. The outcomes of PCSC projects go beyond climate benefits: Over the course of several planting seasons, farmers can see improved soil quality and improvements to overall farming resiliency, which bolsters the productivity of U.S. soybean farmers well into the future.