Cancellation of the USA’s Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program has impacted a Missouri hemp project – and others could be affected as well.
USDA invested more than $3 billion into 141 projects as part of the program to increase markets for low-carbon footprint American agricultural products.
Brooke Rollins, the U.S. secretary of agriculture (who was in charge at that time), spoke on April 14th. announced cancellation of the programThe Secretary claimed that in some cases, less than 50% of federal funds were provided directly to the farmers.
Now, the USDA website listing projects displays the message: “You’re not authorized to view this page.”
Archive version of the page dated April 11 The report outlined a variety of projects in which industrial hemp played a major role or was a key component. One of those projects was an project led by Missouri’s Lincoln University Related to the commercialization and marketing of climate-smart cannabis crops, while driving soil carbon capture and climate resilience.
This project aims to provide support for small, minority and underrepresented farms by providing incentives and paying license fees and other costs.
The project was to be carried over by a $5 million grant in April 2023. According to ABC17, the University has confirmed the loss of funding – although how much wasn’t mentioned.
University of California, Los Angeles, as well as other grant recipients will have the opportunity to reapply for funding through a re-jigged scheme called Advancing Markets for Producers Initiative (AMP). USDA will evaluate existing grant agreements in light of three key “Farmer First’ policy priorities:
- Producers must receive a minimum of 65 percent of the federal funding;
- By the year 2024, grant recipients will have to enroll at least one producer.
- As of December 31, 2020, the grant recipient must have paid a minimum amount to a producer.
Lincoln University appears to be silent on this issue, other than the acknowledgment that it has lost funding. The new carrots and sticks are not surprising. As evidenced by Trump’s other actions during his second term, the Trump Administration has not been known for its criticism.