Farm Service Agency
Coverage of Farm Service Agency in the Nexus archive.
- Illinois led the US in direct, producer support staff losses, report says
Illinois lost the most Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff in 2025, with 51 county staff cuts across 41 counties, according to a National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition report. The reductions followed federal workforce cuts under the USDA, impacting local support for farmers during a crisis.
- The USDA canceled $300M in farm grants, citing fraud. Did it make up the evidence?
The USDA canceled $300 million in farm grants, citing fraud and waste, with 49 out of 50 grantees notified in a single week. Agroecology Commons, a nonprofit focused on helping farmers of color, avoided cancellation temporarily, possibly due to an ongoing lawsuit. The agency accused grantees of excessive expenditures, including gazebos and oversized office budgets, but Agroecology Commons remained unaffected.
- Rollins signs disaster declaration to provide relief for Pa. fruit growers following freeze
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed a disaster declaration for 17 Pennsylvania counties to provide emergency loans for fruit growers affected by a late spring freeze. The freeze damaged apple, peach, and pear orchards, prompting federal aid to help farmers recover through USDA programs.