The agency that helps farmers protect the environment lost a third of its staff last year. And more cuts could be coming.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) lost over 2,500 staff members in six months due to federal budget cuts under the Trump administration, with Louisiana set to lose 32 of its 37 full-time employees. Farmers in New Orleans, including River Queen Greens, rely on NRCS funding for cover crop seeds but face delays and reduced support, prompting over 500 farmers to sign a letter urging Congress to prioritize staffing.