Today I’m writing to urge you to block further reduction in staff at the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices across the country, and instead advocate for an increase in budget and staff hiring.
The cuts by the fictitious DOGE organization are strike at the heart of some of the most popular agricultural programs for farms, and could undermine vital conservation work on farms and ranches.
As detailed in the article, close to 2,400 NRCS employees who provided critical technical assistance and advisory services to farmers and ranchers have accepted resignation offers. This severe understaffing jeopardizes the ability of NRCS to effectively implement popular conservation programs authorized by the farm bill, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
These programs play a crucial role in promoting sustainable land management practices, protecting water resources, restoring degraded landscapes, and enhancing the resilience of agricultural operations in the face of climate change.
It’s not just handing out checks: The on-the-ground expertise and guidance provided by NRCS staff are invaluable to farmers and ranchers seeking to adopt conservation measures and access cost-share funding for projects that benefit their operations and the environment.
This attitude by the Trump administration could ultimately discourage participation in conservation programs and hamper efforts to address pressing issues like soil erosion, water scarcity, and habitat loss.
Instead, we should be investing in strengthening the agency's ability to support sustainable agriculture practices that safeguard our natural resources and promote long-term food security.
I urge you to oppose any further reductions to NRCS staffing and funding for conservation programs. Thank you.
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