U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is canceling the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC) initiative, a program launched during the Biden administration to promote climate-friendly agricultural practices.
According to the USDA, the decision follows a comprehensive review of the initiative’s projects. The department stated that many of the partnerships had high administrative costs, with less than half of federal funds reaching farmers in some cases.
“Select projects may continue if it can be demonstrated that a significant share of awarded funding directly benefits producers,” the agency said in a statement. “We continue to encourage partners to focus on farmer-centered outcomes or reapply under updated criteria.”
As part of this policy shift, USDA has introduced a new program titled Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP). The initiative is intended to streamline reporting, reduce administrative burdens, and prioritize direct support to agricultural producers. According to USDA, AMP reflects the current administration’s priorities and will replace the PCSC program moving forward.
Under the new guidelines, existing grant recipients must meet three requirements to continue receiving funding:
- At least 65% of federal funds must go directly to producers;
- At least one producer must be enrolled in the project by December 31, 2024;
- At least one payment must be made to a producer by that same date.
Secretary Rollins criticized the prior program’s structure, stating that it placed significant administrative demands on producers and often sidelined their interests. “We are redirecting our efforts to set our farmers up for an unprecedented era of prosperity,” Rollins said.
The USDA has begun contacting current program participants individually with guidance regarding continued eligibility. Expenses incurred before April 13, 2025, will remain eligible for reimbursement. The USDA emphasized that the transition will use existing funding, and no new funds will be allocated for the PCSC initiative.
