As an American farmer in east central Iowa whose operation grows corn, soybeans and cereal rye and runs a cow calf and hog operation, I am proud of the role I play in producing the food, fuel, and fiber that powers our nation and the world. For many of the issues of importance we grapple with today – from ensuring families are able to put wholesome food on the table to spearheading economic growth and prosperity, particularly in our rural communities – American farmers have real, tangible and innovative answers, and the hard work they do each day has never been more important.
To my core I’m a strong supporter of fiscally responsible government, but I am concerned that some of the potential actions being considered in our nation’s capital — particularly cuts to agricultural conservation programs that benefit thousands of farms across the country — may have unintended consequences for American farmers at a moment when we can least afford them.
Farmers know it’s our responsibility to respond to market changes, particularly as our leaders seek to rebalance global trade and eliminate federal spending waste. But we’re also grappling with tough challenges of our own. Costs for critical inputs – like seeds, fertilizer, labor and machinery that are needed to grow, maintain and harvest our bounty – remain high. At the same time, prices for key crops like corn, soybeans and wheat are volatile, leaving farmers at wits’ end as to how they will be able to pay their bills and adequately plan for the future.
Extreme weather has become more and more frequent, with droughts, floods, wildfires and heat waves causing devastating losses for farmers. In just my home state of Iowa, derechos – powerful thunderstorms that can produce immensely destructive, hurricane-like winds – are becoming more common. The 2020 Iowa derecho destroyed millions of acres of corn and soybean crops across the state, causing $11 billion in damage.
Farmers need every tool available to help them withstand and overcome such challenges. Luckily, they know that they already have such tools available in the form of practical, innovative and effective conservation practices for their lands. These proven measures are designed to help farmers accomplish a host of goals – from improving soil health and reducing water usage to saving energy and so much more. Many people know that various conservation practices have a host of environmental benefits, but they may be surprised to learn they also have significant benefits for a farm's viability and bottom line. For example, by improving their farm’s irrigation efficiency, producers can save on input costs while conserving water. As the son of a former oil conservation commissioner, I know that healthy soil benefits my farm and the surrounding area. Thanks to practices like nutrient management and no-till farming, we've reduced the nitrogen in our farm’s soil by 25% and lowered our fertilizer costs while increasing our soil health, which in turn helps absorb heavy rainfall quickly and prevent erosion.
U.S. Department of Agriculture programs such as the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program help provide farmers with the technical assistance and financial support they need to implement these practices that strengthen the resilience of their operations to extreme weather, while at the same time cut costs and boost their bottom line. These programs are incredibly popular in rural America – even with the increased funding made available by Congress to allow more farmers to take advantage of these conservation practices, USDA was not able to fund nearly 64% of the applications received for EQIP, CSP and ACEP in fiscal year 2024.
Despite the many benefits of these practices and the demand for them from farmers, they are at risk of being lost. Congress is working through its budget process now and until there is a final bill, there is a real chance that this funding could be jeopardized as lawmakers look for opportunities to claw back funding, raise revenue and make cuts, which would close off a critical resource for farmers at a time they need it most. In addition, funding for these conservation programs remains impacted by the federal funding freeze, adding an extra layer of chaos and uncertainty for farmers just trying to make a living. Also concerning is the new proposed $754 million cut in the administration’s budget request to conservation technical assistance that provides direct support for farmers – making the preservation of this existing funding even more critically important.
A recent analysis by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign laid bare what’s at stake for farmers across the country if this previously allocated conservation funding is imperiled: Across the country, farmers would lose around $12.5 billion. Dozens of states from every region, including the Midwest, West and Southeast, would miss out on hundreds of millions of dollars each. If Congress eliminates these investments, American farmers are being denied the right tools they need to innovate and prosper. This means fewer active family farms, less healthy food grown here at home and higher grocery bills for families.
Now more than ever, farmers need our fellow Americans to stand with us to ensure we are able to continue to serve as the stewards of our land and do what we love – allowing our nation to thrive as one of the few food-secure nations on Earth. My wife and I hope our three children will someday carry on our family’s over 150-year legacy of farming in Iowa – for us and many other farming families like mine, this funding is crucial to making that possible.
I urge Congress to protect conservation funding for farmers – it's a vital investment in our farms, America's agricultural future and our country’s food independence.
Jason Russell is the owner and operator of Big Boulder Farms in Monticello, Iowa.