Kansas farm leader 'concerned' by DOGE federal job cuts and USDA office closings

Kansas Farm Bureau president Joe Newland is "concerned" about the impact on farmers from funding freezes, federal job cuts and office closures by President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.

Newland spoke to reporters in a Tuesday press call with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, who serves on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Newland was Davids' guest at Trump's Tuesday night address to Congress.

"We know that there are some offices — an office in Lawrence, an office in Topeka — that (are) going to be closed," Newland said. "We don't know what the long-term effect of that will be. But in the short term, we're getting ready to start planting season, so we'll have sign ups coming on, and so we hope that the remaining staff and all will be able to help the producers now get signed up for the programs that's needed.

"So we're just going to have to see what the long-term effect of this is. But in the short term, yeah, we're concerned about the layoffs and all, not only with the USDA offices, but with NBAF. We've got large concerns throughout agriculture, and we want to make sure we maintain a strong staff in all of these areas to make sure that agriculture stays strong."

Newland said he is aware of some U.S. Department of Agriculture contract issues, but he hopes it is a short-term issue.

"I do know of a producer in southeast Kansas that does have, I believe it is an EQIP contract, that has been paused for the time being," Newland said, referring to a conservation incentive program at NRCS.

The DOGE website indicates multiple USDA office leases have been canceled in Kansas. That includes the Lawrence office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and three Topeka offices for the Risk Management Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Rural Housing Service.

Davids said the NRCS and Farm Service Agency "are a critical part of the work that USDA does."

"Positions like NCRS or FSA, those are literally USDA boots on the ground, folks who help farmers and producers in all manner of work that needs to get done," Davids said.

At NBAF — the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan — USDA has confirmed that about a dozen probation employees were let go. Davids said NBAF is doing "critical national security work."

"Breaking news: We all want a more streamlined federal government," Davids said. "We would like to see inefficiencies eliminated, and some of that goes even to the hiring practices. So my hope is also that in the long term, we're able to get on the other side of this with minimal impact to our farmers and producers."

DOGE could affect Kansas Department of Agriculture partnerships

Kansas Department of Agriculture spokesperson Heather Lansdowne told The Capital-Journal on Wednesday that the agency has several federal partnerships that may be affected by DOGE actions.

Lansdowne said the agency "has been monitoring instances where our partnerships with federal agencies may feel the impact of the cuts in funding and staffing. Our partnerships include things like cooperative agreements where KDA performs work and contract inspections as well as grant agreements where we administer programs in the state using federal funds. We routinely monitor federal appropriations that relate to these partnerships."

Several of those partnerships are with the USDA, including NRCS, NBAF, the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Other partnerships are with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Bureau of Reclamation.

One list of 17 partnerships is "areas we have learned are experiencing federal cuts that may cause disruptions or delays in projects and services in Kansas," Lansdowne said. Those are the following:

• USDA–APHIS Wildlife Services — Feral swine removal.
• USDA–APHIS Veterinary Services — Regulatory veterinary work.
• USDA–APHIS National Animal Health Laboratory Network — including the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.
• USDA–APHIS — Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey program.
• USDA–AMS — Research for animal health.
• USDA–AMS — Packers and Stockyards operations.
• USDA–FSIS — Meat and poultry inspection and cooperative agreements.
• USDA–NRCS — High Plains Aquifer Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
• USDA–NRCS — Technical assistance support.
• EPA — Pesticide partnership grant.
• FDA — Feed safety cooperative agreement.
• FDA — Flexible Funding Model for food safety.
• FDA — Rapid Response Team for food emergencies.
• FDA — Enhancing Produce Safety program.
• FEMA — National Dam Safety Program State Assistance.
• FEMA — Cooperating Technical Partners Program — Flood insurance rate mapping.
• FEMA — Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams program.

Another list is of eight other programs that "are considered under review and may result in future reductions," Lansdowne said. Those are the following:

• USDA–AMS — Farmers Market Promotion Program.
• USDA–AMS — Heartland Regional Food Business Center.
• USDA–AMS — Specialty Crop Block Grant program.
• USDA–AMS — Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program.
• USDA–AMS — Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Cooperative Agreement program.
• USDA–AMS — Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.
• FEMA — Community Assistance Program State Support Services.
• Bureau of Reclamation — Water Right Transition Assistance funds.