NYT
Farmers Struggle to Get Basic Services From Depleted Agriculture Dept.
Monday, August 24, 2026
Rural communities reported difficulties obtaining loans, grants, technical assistance, and infrastructure support following staff reductions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department did not specify how many positions were eliminated or which programs were affected. Rural farmers and agricultural organizations have submitted requests for services but did not provide specific timelines for delays or numbers of unmet requests in available reports.
