Hudson Valley Farmers Speak Out on USDA Funding Cuts

By Blake Jackson

After months of pushing back against harmful federal agricultural policies, Congressman Pat Ryan brought together local stakeholders for a Community Speak Out at Crist Brothers Orchards in Walden. The event focused on the adverse effects of Administration actions on the Hudson Valley's agricultural community.

Farmers, small business owners, researchers, food bank representatives, and local distillers joined the Congressman to voice their concerns.

Topics included USDA funding cuts, reductions in agricultural research, damaging tariffs, and the impact of the "Big Beautiful Bill," which strips independent farmers of Medicaid access.

“The entire Hudson Valley agricultural ecosystem works tirelessly hard to feed people in every corner of our community. We should be advancing policies that help our farmers. Instead, Trump and Rollins are doing the exact opposite,” said Congressman Pat Ryan.

“They’re gutting family farms, slashing critical food assistance, kneecapping food banks’ abilities to feed kids, seniors, and veterans, and ripping health care from small, independent farmers in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires and hand-outs to corporate mega-farms. Not to mention the barrage of ego-fueled tariffs, which are squeezing small businesses already struggling to make ends meet. The president’s cronies get a massive payout while local Hudson Valley businesses go under that’s fundamentally un-American.”

Since January, the administration has dismissed thousands of USDA employees nationwide. Secretary Rollins recently announced a major reorganization, expected to drive out even more staff and deepen the loss of institutional expertise.

Cuts to agricultural research are also threatening the region’s farming success. The Hudson Valley Research Lab (HVRL), a vital institution for over 100 years, could face major funding setbacks.

“Publicly funded research is foundational to American agriculture, helping our farmers build one of the strongest and most resilient food systems in the world. For over 100 years, the Hudson Valley Research Lab has exemplified this vital collaboration between farmers and scientists,” said Dr. Jared Buono, Hudson Valley Research Lab Director.

Rep. Ryan also warned about the severe reductions to food assistance programs like TEFAP and SNAP, which would cut millions of meals and hurt both food-insecure residents and small farmers.

Additionally, as SNAP benefits are revoked, food banks are expected to see rising demand despite dwindling resources.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-stockseller_ukr