Iowa Farmers Sound the Alarm on USDA Cuts, Urge Congressional Action at 5 Farmers Town Hall
July 17, 2025
NEVADA, IA – Iowa Farmers Union hosted a virtual town hall with family farmers from across the state to raise the alarm about proposed cuts to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding and the unraveling of the historic partnerships between the government and agriculture through a whole suite of threatened federal programs. The event drew attention to how proposed budget slashes in the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 USDA budget, and the exclusion of key programs in the “Big Beautiful Bill,” will harm farms of all sizes and types across Iowa.
Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation farmer from Polk County and President of the Iowa Farmers Union, moderated the event. “Iowa farmers are united in our belief that the USDA must remain a strong partner for family farmers, for commodity production, for conservation, and for local food, beginning farmers, and the future of rural Iowa,” said Lehman. “These cuts are not just numbers on a page, they threaten the very survival of the farms and farmers we heard from today.”
Seth Watkins, a cattle and conservation-focused farmer from Clarinda, Iowa, emphasized the importance of trusted local USDA staff.
“Having strong local USDA offices has allowed me to transition to a smaller farm and focus on conservation,” said Watkins, who previously served on the Iowa Farm Service Agency State Committee. “Without Technical Assistance funding and real people in those local offices, Iowa’s conservation efforts, led by dedicated staff and generational land stewards, will be left behind.”
Watkins manages a diversified grazing operation on roughly 400 acres in southwest Iowa, intentionally scaled down from over 4,000 acres to make room for the next generation of farmers. Watkins farms in the third Congressional District where he is represented by Congressman Zach Nunn.
Barney Bahrenfuse, a multi-generational livestock and row-crop farmer in Jasper County, shared how programs like Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) have helped him improve soil and water health through rotational grazing.
“Iowa farmers have kept their end of the bargain by investing time, energy, and land into conservation. But now USDA is pulling funding and freezing contracts, and Congress is silent,” said Bahrenfuse. “If I can’t trust the government to follow through, how can I continue this work?”
Bahrenfuse has farmed since the 1980s and has seen firsthand the difference conservation makes for soil health, water quality, and long-term farm sustainability. Bahrenfuse farms in the first Congressional District where he is represented by Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks.
Ellen Walsh-Rosmann, who farms near Harlan and runs Milk & Honey Restaurant, highlighted the impact of cuts to local food programs.
“The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs were transformational, they supported farmers like my family and made it possible for food banks, schools, and pantries to buy directly from us,” said Walsh-Rosmann. “If Congress guts those programs, it’s not just our farms that suffer, it’s our communities.”
Her farm supplies meat, eggs, and vegetables directly to consumers, schools, and institutions, and participates in FarmTable Delivery, a food hub for more than 80 producers across Iowa and neighboring states. Walsh-Rosmann farms in the fourth Congressional District where she is represented by Congressman Randy Feenstra.
Anna Pesek, a beginning farmer raising pastured meats with her partner near Coggon, shared how USDA Loans have helped her build a viable business.
“We’re trying to compete with multinational meatpackers while building equity in our business and feeding our community,” said Pesek. “Without USDA support, beginning farmers like us don’t stand a chance. The barriers and competition are just too high.”
Pesek’s farm sells pastured pork, beef, and poultry through local retail and wholesale accounts, and was in the process of scaling up to reach new markets through USDA investment. Pesek farms in the second Congressional District where she is represented by Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.
Each speaker delivered a clear message to their representative and to Iowa’s Congressional delegation: protect and fully fund the USDA, preserve the partnership between farmers and the government, and ensure that Iowa farmers have the tools they need to succeed.
Lehman concluded the event by calling on Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley to stand with Iowa’s family farmers.
“We need our leaders to defend the Farm Bill, not dismantle it. We need them to invest in all farmers, revitalize our rural communities and landscapes, and empower all parts of our food system, not just the richest and most powerful parts of it,” said Lehman. “The future of rural Iowa depends on it.”
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Journalists looking to interview Iowa farmers or to follow up with farmers who have spoken on behalf of Iowa Farmers Union, can reach out to Christina Dexter, IFU Communications Director, by emailing [email protected].
About Iowa Farmers Union The Iowa Farmers Union is a grassroots membership organization of family farmers and ranchers, advocates, and consumers committed to promoting family agriculture in Iowa. Since 1915, Iowa Farmers Union members have worked together to strengthen the independent family farm through education, legislation, and cooperation and to provide Iowans with sustainable production, safe food, a clean environment, and healthy communities.