Local nonprofit and small East Coast farms sue after USDA freezes grant funds, leaving them without financial support.

In recent weeks, employees of Pasa Sustainable Agriculture have found themselves in a precarious situation, facing critical financial uncertainty despite their ongoing work commitments. The Harrisburg-based nonprofit, which has been integral in promoting sustainable farming practices, has not received any payments for over 60 days, resulting in a dire situation for its workforce. The organization is currently owed million in reimbursements stemming from a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), funds that are crucial for its operations and staff compensation.

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, formerly known as the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, plays a significant role in helping small farmers across the East Coast adopt environmentally friendly practices. Its efforts have included a variety of initiatives aimed at facilitating education, research, and sustainable farming techniques among local agriculture communities. However, with the federal funding currently frozen, the organization is confronting severe operational challenges, having been forced to furlough 60 employees, with only a small fraction remaining on staff.

The financial crisis has wide-ranging repercussions for the local farming community. Many farmers had relied on the promise of government funding to implement critical ecological improvements to their land. Without timely payments, these farmers must now reassess their financial commitments, which could lead to devastating long-term effects on their operations.

As part of its response to the funding freeze, Pasa has engaged in legal action against the federal government alongside the Southern Environmental Law Center, aiming to restore the crucial funding that was halted by prior administrative decisions. Federal courts have ruled the funding freezes unlawful; however, these judicial decisions have yet to translate into renewed financial support for the nonprofit.

The million in outstanding grants is intended to support a wide array of projects designed to enhance sustainability, improve soil health, and protect water quality. Pasa’s initiatives had aimed to reach up to 2,000 small- to medium-sized farms across 15 states, working to address key challenges such as climate resilience, soil erosion, and effective data collection.

As Pasa navigates this funding crisis, the organization’s executive director has voiced concerns for the future of the farming community. The economic ripple effects of this funding freeze impact not only the farmers directly involved but also a network of related businesses and services reliant on these agricultural projects. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and what support may eventually be reinstated to facilitate the critical work being carried out in sustainable agriculture.