USDA cancels climate-smart commodity program, redirects focus to direct farmer support

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially canceled the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC), an initiative launched during the Biden administration, citing concerns over administrative costs and limited direct benefits to farmers. The decision was announced Monday by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who stated the program would be replaced by a revised framework titled Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP).

According to the USDA, a review of PCSC revealed that a substantial portion of awarded federal funds were allocated to administrative costs, with some projects directing less than half of their funding to farmers. While select PCSC projects may continue, continuation will depend on proof that a significant share of funds reaches producers directly.

“We continue to support farmers and encourage partners to ensure their projects are farmer-focused,” Rollins said. “This shift eliminates bureaucratic inefficiencies, streamlines reporting, and prioritizes direct support to agricultural producers.”

The AMP initiative, which uses existing funding from the PCSC program, introduces three new eligibility criteria for current and future grants:

• At least 65% of federal funds must go directly to producers.
• Grant recipients must have enrolled at least one producer by December 31, 2024.
• Payments must have been made to at least one producer by that same date.

No new funding will be issued under the revised initiative. The USDA will contact current PCSC partners to outline future participation terms and confirm eligibility for expenses incurred prior to April 13, 2025.

Secretary Rollins criticized the prior framework, stating it favored non-governmental organizations over producers. “The concerns of farmers took a backseat during the Biden administration,” she said. “We are correcting these mistakes and redirecting our efforts to set our farmers up for an unprecedented era of prosperity.”

The USDA’s changes are positioned as part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to reshape climate and agricultural funding priorities with a focus on direct economic benefits to U.S. farmers.