Seen in Pittsfield, MA

So dang proud of the National Young Farmers Coalition for taking clear and firm political stances and so grateful to get this email today.

And just a reminder that everything, including farming is political and affected by politics! So many farmers (including us) were counting on Climate Smart funding for the next four years. Funding was intended to help farmers make adaptations to survive the effects of climate change.

6. Tariffs. Lots of agricultural supplies are imported— notably, the plastic products that have been touted as climate adaptations for the last two decades—from the plastic for high tunnels that grow salad greens year round to the drip tape irrigation that reduces water use. (14)

5. HIP benefits. Lots of veggie and meat farmers provide food to low income people who pay them using federal food benefits. If these programs disappear, farmers will be immediately and irrevocably affected. (13)

4. Climate disaster. This is the biggest one. Ask literally any farmer about climate change. Even the deniers (they exist) will begrudgingly admit, for example, that maple season is two months earlier than it was 30 years ago. (11)

2. Grants. Basically no small organic farmer in my area (100 acres of less) operates without large government grants. They fund projects that build regional food security, support business consulting for farmers, allow us to purchase equipment that increases efficiency, etc. (6)

NRCS funding supports things like high tunnels, cover-cropping, taking ecologically sensitive land out of production, agroforestry, and nutrient management. Some of us are planning contracts for future years and some are already have signed contracts to complete the work. But here's the thing: (4)

1. We're nervous about contracts with federal agencies like the NRCS. Many farmers get some amount of federal funding to support practices that build soil health. The NRCS (national resources conservation service) was founded after the dustbowl to prevent, yes, you guessed it, another dustbowl. (3)

Hi! I'm Abby, farmer at Foxtrot Farm in Ashfield, MA. We're a 6-acre farm that grows mostly botanicals, elderberries, and weird foods that walk the line between food and medicine.

I started this farm eight years ago with the goal of growing climate resilient crops in climate resilient ways.