Each week, the editorial team at Greenhouse Grower and Meister Media Worldwide will bring you the latest updates from the Trump administration’s policies and their impact on floriculture, from labor to the farm bill to funding for anything from federal loans to research and Extension. We also want to hear from you. What questions do you have about immigration enforcement, tariffs, or other topics? Let us know, and we’ll do our best to get you answers.
Here’s our update for Feb. 27.
Ag Secretary Rollins Releases the First Tranche of Funding Under Review
On Feb. 20, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the agency will release the first tranche of funding that was paused due to the review of funding in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
In alignment with White House directives, Secretary Rollins will honor contracts that were already made directly to farmers. Specifically, USDA is releasing approximately $20 million in contracts for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
“American farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our nation,” says Secretary Rollins. “The Biden administration rushed out hundreds of millions of dollars of IRA funding that was supposed to be distributed over eight years. After careful review, it is clear that some of this funding went to programs that had nothing to do with agriculture — that is why we are still reviewing — whereas other funding was directed to farmers and ranchers who have since made investments in these programs. We will honor our commitments to American farmers and ranchers, and we will ensure they have the support they need to be the most competitive in the world.”
This is the first tranche of released funding, and additional announcements are forthcoming as USDA continues to review IRA funding.
More from the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association
Asha Hingorani, President of the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association, shares a few more insights on how potential tariffs placed on Canada could affect growers who rely on Canadian peat.
“Based on what Canadian peat producers understand of the current version of the tariffs being proposed, they do not foresee any restrictions that would be limiting peat and peat-based products shipments to U.S. greenhouse growers. Canadian peat producers will continue to provide peat and peat-based products to U.S. greenhouse growers. As Canadian peat producers believe in best practices, planning early will only help growers and producers alike. Growers should thus speak directly with their suppliers about their individual purchase plans for the upcoming year.”
Research Funding Update
We recently received the following anonymous note from an ag tech researcher:
“Thanks for keeping up on this. Look at this link. Before Jan 20 there were due dates for these RFAs. Now they are all in limbo, including Hatch funds. Please publicize this pause in funding. I am in the process of building a new machine and have a contract with a shop. I was expecting more funds to pay for this, now USDA has a funding freeze, and I am on the hook for $337K in a funding deficit. President Trump is doing massive damage to research, and what we are doing is in the best interest of the country and does not violate his promises or objectives. He is throwing out the baby with the bathwater.”
Other headlines:
- AmericanHort Calls for Sphagnum Peat Moss Exemption from New Canadian Tariff: Several horticulture associations advocate for excluding sphagnum peat moss from proposed Canadian tariffs out of the Trump administration. Learn more here.
- Greenhouse Grower to Grower Podcast: How to Protect Your People and Your Company Amid Immigration Enforcement: In this episode of Greenhouse Grower to Grower, we talk to Michael Maggiotto, Director of Human Resource Solutions at BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group, about navigating the chaos swirling around immigration today.
- How Energy Efficiency Grants Are Being Impacted by the Trump Administration: We talk to Gretchen Schimelpfenig, a Senior Energy Engineer at Energy Resources Integration, about what might happen to federally funded grants for efficiency programs.
