Lawrencia Rogers had just begun a two-year fellowship with Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) in March, a program funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provided her with land, equipment, and mentorship to grow broccolini, lettuce, and beans on an eighth-acre plot at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm. Two and a half weeks later, the USDA cancelled the non-profit's $2.5m grant, labeling it "wasteful spending" and a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program. Rogers, 33, who had dreamed of farming since age six, said, "It was honestly like school for farmers." The cancellation left her without a living wage, health insurance, or paid time off, and the fellowship was put on hold.
Impact of USDA funding cuts on small-scale farmers
Jason Grimm, executive director of Iowa Valley RC&D, described the situation as a "slingshot" effect, bouncing farmers back and forth. A federal judge later ordered the USDA to reinstate $127m in grants to Iowa Valley RC&D and other organizations, but the damage was done: the non-profit's plans to expand the curriculum and take on more trainees were set back. Small-scale producers across Iowa say they have been uniquely affected by USDA policy shifts under President Donald Trump, including layoffs and the dismantling of Biden-era initiatives. Anna Pesek, who farms poultry, pigs, and flowers in eastern Iowa, said, "The continued canceled funding ... continues to be the cherry on top for many organizations and farmers that are already up against really hard times."
Political implications for Iowa midterms
The farming turmoil could influence November's midterm elections in Iowa, a Republican-dominated state where Democrats see opportunities in the open US Senate seat, governor's mansion, and three House seats. The first congressional district around Iowa City, where Republican incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks won by about 800 votes in the last election, is a key battleground. Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan faces Miller-Meeks for the third time, and farming issues are expected to be top of mind for voters.
Industry turmoil: tariffs, war, and bankruptcies
Agriculture accounts for a third of Iowa's economic output and a fifth of its jobs. Trump's tariffs on global trading partners led China to reduce soybean purchases from US farmers, hitting Iowa, the second-largest soybean producer. The war with Iran has driven up costs for fertilizer, gasoline, and diesel. Even before the conflict, Iowa's farm economy showed strain: 18 farms declared bankruptcy in 2025, a 220% increase from the prior year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. The USDA has lost 20,000 employees nationwide since Trump returned to office, a 17% staff reduction in Iowa, amid efforts to shrink the federal workforce.
Program cancellations and farmer frustrations
The USDA cancelled the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), which funded local produce purchases by food banks and schools. A USDA spokesperson described the LFPA as a "pandemic-era program" not intended to be permanent. James Nisly, who produces chicken, vegetables, and dairy south of Iowa City, estimated he lost 20% of his cashflow and many buyers due to the cancellations. "All of the policy activity that I've seen is hugely beneficial to the very large corporations, and detrimental to the small-business operators," he said. Farmers also report unreliable grant processes; Nisly's grant for refrigerated trucks under the Resilient Food System Infrastructure program was frozen three days after his first purchase, then unfrozen weeks later. Carly McAndrews, a vegetable farmer in Iowa City, found the USDA's $1bn assistance program for specialty crops inaccessible: "Nobody knew how to help me ... it was like a functionless program."
DEI label disputed by program participants
The fellowship Rogers was enrolled in was part of the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program, a $300m Biden-era effort to assist underserved producers, including military veterans and farmers with limited experience. Matt Russell, former USDA official in Iowa under Biden, said the program aimed to expand the farmer base and address past discrimination. Grimm disputed the DEI label: "There was no requirement of a specific cultural or racial background to be able to participate in our programs." Rogers, whose father is Egyptian, and a second fellow from Sudan were hired based on qualifications. She said, "It's not that nobody else wanted these positions ... People are not begging to be farmers ... but we are." A USDA spokesperson declined to comment on the land access program, citing pending litigation.
Rogers has access to her plot until December but lacks the instruction she believed would help her succeed. "I have never had a decision on such a level impact my life literally overnight in such a drastic way," she said. "So, if that wasn't a rude awakening to pay more attention and, I don't know, maybe be more vocal or take more action, I don't know what could be."
