King-backed bill would force USDA to pay farmers’ federal contracts

Mar. 31—Maine Sen. Angus King joined with Senate Democrats on Monday to introduce legislation that would force the Trump administration to release federal agricultural funding that has been withheld from farmers with signed contracts, including many in Maine.

The Honor Farmers Contracts Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make overdue payments as soon as possible, forbid cancellation of agricultural contracts without proof of a contract violation and prohibit the closure of agricultural offices without justifying it to Congress.

“The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would ensure that Maine’s farmers receive the federal funding from all signed agreements and contracts as quickly as possible to prevent any operations from having to shut down,” King said. “This is a critical step to protect the Maine agricultural economy and food supply.”

Maine farmers are still waiting for the USDA to release about $12 million in contractually obligated conservation grants funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), President Joe Biden’s landmark climate legislation, despite a judge’s order and USDA’s promise to do so.

Farmers in Brunswick, Dresden, Freeport, West Gardiner and Whitefield are waiting on funds owed to them for completing approved conservation projectcs that range from improving soil health to carbon sequestration to planting crops that attract pollinators.

The Trump administration defends the funding cuts as necessary to rein in runaway federal spending and eliminate climate change and diversity programs it finds offensive and wasteful, beliefs that have been echoed by new Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

The federal cuts were discussed at a Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association panel Friday.

“What we’ve just learned (Friday) is that the USDA, even though they have said that IRA funds are unfrozen, and that the contracts are going to move forward, we are finding out they are still holding up those funds,” Sarah Alexander, MOFGA’s executive director, said on Friday.

Without these funds, most Maine farmers couldn’t afford these conservation programs, said Annie Watson, a first-generation dairy farmer in Whitefield who is the president of the Maine Dairy Industry Association. Just writing a manure management plan can cost up to $10,000, she said.

As much as she wants to protect the environment, Watson admits the freeze makes her hesitant to sign a new USDA conservation contract to build cattle stream crossings on some newly acquired…