USDA funding loss cuts climate commitment short

May 29, 2025

THIS OP ED FIRST APPEARED IN THE MARIN IJ on May 17, 2025

Earlier this month, the Marin Agricultural Land Trust received confirmation that a $10 million U.S. Department of Agriculture climate-smart commodities grant, awarded to a North Bay coalition to support local farmers and ranchers implement climate-resilient practices, has been terminated.

This grant would have provided critical funding through local nonprofits and agencies to over 100 agricultural producers in Marin and Sonoma counties — those ready to adopt regenerative tools like compost application, water conservation infrastructure, rotational grazing and improved soil management. These practices not only increase agricultural resilience but also sequester carbon, promote biodiversity, and help combat the growing impacts of climate change on our working lands.

The loss of this funding is part of a broader rollback by the federal administration, a shift that affects not just our organization but hundreds of producers across the country who were depending on these resources. For those on the ground in West Marin, it’s a sobering reminder that while climate change doesn’t pause, political priorities often do.

For MALT, this news is deeply disappointing — but not paralyzing.

Over the past two decades, we’ve developed several grantmaking programs to meet producers where they are. Initiatives like our “Stewardship Assistance” and “Drought Resilience and Water Security” programs have funded over 100 projects, helping local land stewards manage water resources, install fencing for better grazing and implement erosion control. These were the building blocks for our newly launched “Small Grants” program — an initiative designed to streamline access to funding for vital agriculture projects across West Marin.

While these programs may not match the scale of federal funding, they reflect something just as powerful: our community’s unwavering commitment to the land.

This isn’t just an agricultural issue — it’s a community issue. The fresh produce, dairy, meats and specialty products we all enjoy at farmers markets, local grocers and restaurants are grown by these very producers. When they lose access to funding that supports soil health, water efficiency and pasture vitality, the ripple effects reach us all. The health of our local food system is directly tied to the health of our working lands — and to the ability of our farmers and ranchers to adapt to a changing climate.

In just the first year of the new grant program, demand has been strong — clear proof that Marin’s agricultural producers are ready to lead in climate-smart land stewardship. What they need is consistent support.

That’s why MALT will continue investing in our small grants work — because when larger systems falter, it’s local partnerships that carry the torch. But these programs are made possible entirely through donor contributions. Every dollar that goes toward a small grant is a dollar that helps a producer implement a practice that improves their soil, conserves water or supports the long-term health of their land and agricultural resilience.

The sudden loss of USDA funding doesn’t just delay good work — it delays urgently needed solutions. Climate change isn’t some future threat. It’s here, now, reshaping the rhythms of our growing seasons, altering our ecosystems and pressuring producers to do more with less.

Still, I remain hoeful. Because in Marin County, we understand that stewardship is a shared responsibility. I have seen that, time and again, this community has stepped up to protect the places and people that make this region so unique.

As we absorb this funding setback, MALT will continue to advocate for public investment in climate-smart agriculture. But we’ll also lean deeper into what has always sustained us — local leadership, community trust and the generosity of people who believe in the future of farming and ranching in Marin.

If we want to ensure that our working lands remain viable in the face of climate change, we can’t wait for federal programs to catch up. We must invest now, together.