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USDA faces big task distributing IRA funds to support conservation
An ag policy specialist is confident USDA is up to the task of distributing billions of dollars allocated for conservation programs.
Andrew Lentz with the Environmental Defense Fund says there’s concern the agency will struggle to effectively distribute funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to farmers.
“And I think we’re seeing that they can. USDA just recently bolstered (staff) by bringing in more than 300,000 new staff members, just in the past three months I believe. To meet the needs of farmers who are seeking financial and technical assistance through these IRA funds.”
He tells Brownfield USDA is committed to rolling out conservation programs with the full funding available.
“We’re seeing the need from farmers as well as the action from USDA to really meet that demand.”
The Inflation Reduction Act provides more than $19 billion over five years to support USDA conservation programs.
