Vermont farmers say USDA staff cuts have made conservation and loan programs harder to access

# What happened Over the last year, federal staffing cuts and resignations reduced USDA presence in Vermont. An analysis by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition found a 27% decline in USDA staff in the state, equal to 92 positions. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) lost 31 employees, and several county offices experienced reductions exceeding 30%.

# How farmers are feeling the impact Farmers report fewer people available to explain programs, help prepare applications and follow projects through. Ben Haigh, a small dairy farmer in Shoreham, said he was previously awarded funding for fencing to protect a river on his property but later was denied without clear reasons. Other farmers described programs as less transparent and harder for small operations to navigate.

Agency (FSA) also saw cuts. Farmers and advocates say that reduced FSA staffing has made it harder to access loans for new ventures or recover after climate-related losses.

# Where the money is going now Federal legislation enacted in July 2025 — the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (referred to in reporting as the 'One Big Beautiful Bill') — includes more than $34 billion for farming conservation programs over five years. Despite that funding, the diminished NRCS workforce has limited the agency's ability to run programs that improve water quality, soil health and farm enterprises.

# Who is raising concerns

• Ben Haigh: previously received NRCS funding for fencing that protects adjacent water. More recent applications were denied with limited explanation.
• Singing Cedars Farmstead (Becky Madden): cited high tunnel funding as transformative in the past, implying that changes to program access affect similar opportunities.
• Maddie Kempner (NOFA-VT): said limited staff has compromised programs meant to improve environmental outcomes and farm business resilience.

# Practical implications for small farmers With fewer local USDA staff, small farms face increased hurdles to apply for and manage conservation contracts and loans. Applicants may see longer processing times, less explanation of funding priorities, and greater competition with larger projects for limited administrative capacity.

# What officials say

# Bottom line There is significant federal funding earmarked for conservation, but reduced on-the-ground USDA staffing in Vermont has narrowed who can access it. The result is fewer small-farm awards, a tilt toward larger projects, and practical barriers for farmers who need hands-on help with applications and loans.