Signed Letter to Congress on NRCS and USDA staffing

Dear Chairs and Ranking Members,

We appreciate recent efforts by Congress and the Administration to strengthen long-term agricultural investments, including conservation funding and farmer-focused initiatives. However, funding alone does not solve delivery challenges. Programs cannot function effectively if USDA lacks the workforce needed to administer them.

We write to you in regards to appropriately funding and staffing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As you know, federal agricultural policy does not succeed or fail based solely on what is written into law. It succeeds or fails based on whether USDA has the people and resources needed to deliver programs to farmers and ranchers on the ground.

We write as farmers and ranchers who depend on USDA staff and offices in our communities,  including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA). We rely on USDA personnel to help us manage risk, access conservation assistance, secure critical financing–ultimately helping to keep our operations viable.

USDA employees work directly with farmers and ranchers like us, walk our fields, process applications and payments, design conservation plans, administer disaster assistance, and ensure programs approved by Congress actually reach the producers they are intended to serve.

Recent staffing losses across USDA raise serious concerns. According to the USDA Office of the Inspector General, thousands of USDA staff positions were lost in 2025, including reductions of 22 percent at NRCS and 24 percent at the Farm Service Agency. We all are used to doing more with less, but for farmers and ranchers, staffing losses mean longer wait times, delayed payments, reduced technical assistance, and fewer staff available to help navigate increasingly complex programs and situations that could be the difference for a family farm staying in business or closing its doors.

At the same time, farmers and ranchers are facing unprecedented pressures. Input costs remain high, commodity markets are volatile, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and destructive. Even the best-run operations cannot manage these challenges alone. USDA programs are essential tools that help farmers and ranchers weather uncertainty, protect working lands, and maintain a stable food and agriculture system.

Efficiency should mean better service for farmers and ranchers, not fewer people available to do the work. Cutting staffing without addressing growing demand risks creating bottlenecks that undermine the very programs farmers and ranchers rely on. A strong, farmer-first USDA requires adequate staffing, modern tools, and stable funding to meet the evolving, real-world needs of our producers.

As Congress continues deliberations on the Farm Bill, agriculture assistance, and annual appropriations, we urge you to ensure we have a strong USDA that is fully staffed, funded, and equipped to serve American farmers and ranchers.

Thank you for your leadership and for your continued commitment to the farmers and ranchers who produce our nation’s food, fuel, and fiber.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Farmers and Ranchers

Signatories | 524 Farmers and Ranchers from Across the Country

Bradley Smith, 44847
Ray Tucker, 17878
Alan Crossgrove, 43502
AJ Munger, 57345
allisen grimes, 58653
Amanda Butterfield, 15552
AR FENGER, 56283
Brooks Wallis, 79512
Orville Anderson, 55325
brian messer, 52601
Barry Boerger, 43044
Lyle Wobker, 66071
Bonnie Mullican, 37110-4979
Leatha Parker, 51566
Benny Hardesty, 40011
Jason Besteman, 75473
james fritz, 46996
Brian Greenslit, 55333
Bruce Houchin, 68444
Brent Hilbert, 55382
Mark Curry, 61957
Bill Schlimme, 62286
William Thiel, 65340
Beau Bittner, 61701
Bill Malven, 50655
Robert Miller, 52240
Robert Anderson, 62465
Robert Crouse, 97526
Terry Wendel, 61367
Donald McFarland, 21623
Bruce Stucky, 67107-7478
Brandon Dibben, 66441
Barbara Hulsizer, 02420
Brent Rosman, 99117-9515
Brian Tyler, 68826
Brian Bezner, 79022
Brian Uebelhor, 47546
Jim Broten, 58429
Roger Calhoun, 23108
BRUCE DRISCOLL, 56721
Dustin Brunn, 53916
Bryan Cherry, 66743
Jamie Bryn, 58429
Buck Burroughs, 38732
Lauris Kiecker, 56556
Thomas Burk, 50439
Vance Butler, 59520
Bonnie Van Dyk, 54917
Brett Worden, 80807
Bruce Yingling, 62353
Robert Carroll, 55019
Craig Blausey, 43445
Leland Semple, 62643
Carlton Bull, 12992
Charles Record, 46231
charles Cannatella, 71353
Charles Grotevant, 61764-9715
Chelsea Sauers, 80737
Cheryl Davis, 53965
Rodney Adams, 69361
John Chmielewski, 48182
Bruce Christmann, 58051-9330
Christopher Epps, 31520
Charles Stewart, 27048
Charles Holz, 61369
Dannie Lesesne, 29940
Jan Frenzen, 68638-4407
Christopher Kuehn, 68945
charles DAVIDOWICZ, 01835
Cade Grace, 35504
Connie Schlepp, 57754
Jaime Cordell, 672114
Curtis Johnson, 56026
Edward Coufal, 76501
Craig Hiler, 50579
Collin Strother, 63857
Chris Vos, 67218
Don Davis, 43145
Dan Altscheffel, 48601
Danny SHARP, 32780
Dan Breuker, 5347
Doug Pieper, 68310
Darrel Clark, 55967
DAN VOSS, 52206
Tony DAttilio, 50049
David Maurer, 51301
David Kehler, 17964
Jason Camp, 59714
dwayne wienrank, 56165
David Sandon, 59482
Dean Winterton, 60530
Mark Dease, 58352
Debbie Womble, 39845
Rochelle DE GROOT, 93230
David Koopmans, 51036
Dennis Fredrickson, 61485
Denny Bogner, 61565
Duncan Malloy, 28357
Daryl Greninger, 98837
Dorothy Long, 50554
Richard Westerhouse, 47960
David Hecksel, 55388
Dale Mekash, 56726
Dwight Lowder, 28001
Doug Hafer, 43332
Donald Boland, 65351
Carol Dowell, 47905
Janet Helms, 98607
Janet Helms, 19425
Dean Schmidt, 58458
Dennis Harms, 50604
David Vanderhyden, 60420
Darrell Sheats, 48160
Stephanie Jensen, 58653
Ed Buck, 80751
Laura Grant, 83702
Craig Andersen, 57014
Eric Meusch, 65401
Elvesta Hochstedler, 52247
Erick Meyer, 56265
Ethan Noll, 66434
Charles Johnson, 95136
Duane Burk, 64085
Richard Rager, 16158
Jeff Olson, 52659
RODNEY HENRICHS, 62230
Roy Schneider, 56329
Thomas Shissler, 61529
Bert Loehrer, 57252
Rob Huisinga, 61856
Faye James, 31063
David Findlay, 56274
Caroline Hoffman, 64097
Larry Orr, 47353
Barry Fontenot, 38748
DENNIS BUNGER, 45346
Fred Butler, 83676
Michael Fruge, 70535
Fred Fosdick, 64836
Gabriel Arveson, 56684
Frank Hiley, 31030
Mike Gappa, 68817
Shawn Gappa, 56081
Gary Kidwell, 63450
Gary Meyers, 62056
Gary Walz, 57029
Gary Asay, 61274
Tim Van Mol, 71346
Gene Sueper, 68644
Eugene Steiger, 53804
Gerry Holmes, 35622
George Heiskell, 37807
Mick Riesinger, 58630
Randy gilliam, 37380
Greg Moes, 57238
Glen Pierce, 23883
Jane Gore, 22041
Mack Grady, 28578
Grant Herfindahl, 56215
William Grammer, 44672
Grayson Fritzler, 80701
Wilhelm VanEgmond, 95258
Kenneth Wenger, 22802
Dawn James, 80807
Greg Koehn, 67837
Cody Griffin, 50659
Sara Grim, 57317
Robert Gruntorad, 50574
Vance Johnson, 56520
Gwen Davis, 67473
Jenny Hodge, 45371
Matt Hackwell, 50076
Haley Kerr, 52601
Catherine catt, 64763
Justin Heinle, 58503
Sheila Corn, 88201
Dale Holt, 67410
Sarah Turvin, 17050
Elvin Latta, 47846
Harold Stelzel, 77435
Sarahlee Lawrence, 97759
John Sparrgrove, 52133
jacob a waldnar, 59501
Janna Schwab, 75559
Janice Trent, 24104
Jason Davis, 45133
Jay Fowl, 44035
JOHN KUIPERS, 58487
Jeana Harms, 69361
Jeanne Robeson, 61462
Jeff Dodson, 38571
Jeffrey Olsen, 61277
Jere Ettesvold, 56323
James Hanson, 56019
Jessie Maske, 62080
Jim Group, 68037
James (Jimmy) Curry Jr., 39886
James Iola, 71111
Jana Peyton, 93274-9340
Jay Ackley, 43319
Jeremy Natzke, 54126
J L Meagher, 56531
J Meagher, 56531
John Voight, 76511
Jerry Nelson, 56101
Jamie Hornbeck, 72042-2996
James Ellis, 40065-8071
Don Lord, 51055
Jon. M. Whitman, 99163
Jerry Miller, 39861
Todd Dustin, 83455-5295
Jodi Bolen, 43420
Joe Tuholski, 46350
Joe Hottel Jr, 21702
John Shawhan, 45368
John Mulrooney, 95638
Craig Johnson, 50266
Roy Johnston, 74074
Jonathan Hatch, 55107
Jon Bergman, 45388
Jamie Pettis, 12871
John Peck, 48811
Jeffrey Peterson, 56236
Jack Homa, 08515
Jeff Schilling, 97058
Jeremy Cockrell, 74364
john Semas, 95757
John Nuytten, 56258
Kurt Swartz, 12019
Justin Stahl, 57063
James Warren, 77447
James Sydnor, 61614
Paul Kummer k, 58018
Karen craig, 38851
Kay Johnson, 95136
Kam Birgy, 49663
Kelly Cheesewright, 61924
Kevin Heft, 67054
kent heikens, 50010
Rosellen Keller, 68777
Jason Keller, 56516
Kenneth Scherer, 95959
Kenneth Graul, 62265
Kenneth Rinkel, 62034
Jon Kingma, 46310
Kirby Miles, 64487
gary klenke, 67547
Katy Harringer, 47907
Kevin Underwood, 47906
Kim McCloskey, 44024
Keith Meyer, 66044
Kenny Hendren, 34112
Kevin Mirts, 51566
Lee Wiebers, 52213
Kenneth Graves, 72042
Katherine Rogers, 46062
kim sellers, 38059
Pearce Kiykendall, 74023
Kyle Lemoine, 71355
Lance Burditt, 63443
Larry Alsum, 53935
Larry Younger, 24558
Larry Mayberry, 63846
Elena Larue, 43125
Lyle Johnson, 52211
Loren Hochstedler, 52247
Linda Westergren, 78962
Leonard Hoen Jr, 55368
Ella Morgan, 76844
Lisa Krumm, 63361
Dale Oeschger, 48720-9725
lindy colvin, 78751
Ren Schiller, 47172
Liz Larson, 57105
Larry Minges, 45053
Lynn Porter, 50633
Laura Nowlin, 59087
Trish Hundley, 50422
Justin Lund, 58776
Martin Marler, 99111
Lucas Dutra, 95928
Mark Crews, 34973
Lyla Crouch, 76856
M. Shendy, 31632
Mark Peterson, 58799
Mark Bechtel, 66223
Mark McKean, 93656
Dennis Marshall, 64429
Mark Sonderby, 82801
Dennis Maugere, 33330
David McKay, 73655
Kelly McGarva, 76525
Robert Christie, 55972
Micharl Dikrman, 66602
MICHAEL COMER, 47170
Gabriella Sudbeck, 66538
Michael Fata, 64655
Paul Mears, 50129
Lon Medbery, 56219
Michael Batchelor, 38012
Michael Cole, 50464
Michael Sawyer, 23456
Myron Peterson, 56285
Bill Micke, 38240
Michael Metzger, 43569
Michael Vosburgh, 49047
Mike Hynek, 68942
Michael Novak, 58703
Mike Barth, 61018
Howard Kennedy, 65802
Mark Klimkowski, 73045
Mariann Landini, 81521
Michael Clover, 68022
Michael Jackson, 74435
Mark Meyer, 58030
Mollie McConnell, 43944
Jerry Engstrom, 57273
Robert Moser, 51241
Mike Marquardt, 16875
Martin Yahner, 16668
Mark LeGare, 56054
Michael Lentz, 98520
Michael Schnitzler, 56231
Merlin VAN Walleghen, 57359
Troy Bradford, 41031
Mark Vandever, 80521
Ron Myers, 58701
Rives Neblett Neblett, 38774
NED NELSON, 84335
Jason Nelson, 79027
Kyle ness, 56723
Nick Keller, 68777-3531
Harold London, 17701
David Nonemacher, 54208
Steve Norman, 56265
leonard youngblut, 50612
Kim Olson, 56209
Katherine Holman, 92675
Orvin Godejohn, 58029
Ron Smith, 49068
John Painter, 16950
Pam Johnson, 50435
Alan Paulson, 53925
Paul Becker, 58627
Penny Svenkeson, 57747
Perry Backstrom, 68787
STEVEN PETERSON, 54701
Mark Eurek, 68853
Paul Sueper, 68644
Dwight Plank, 46932
Paul VanPelt, 55912
C B Player III, 29010
Allen Pooley, 78670
Pat Bormann, 50519
Henk postmus, 76446
Jeff Potter, 56283
Steve Winn, 84076
Randy Brenteson, 59425
Randy Carignan, 58282
Ranie Rupard, 98823
Ray Krausz, 62259
Joe Carpenter, 47348
Bob Bagnell, 65349
robert coker, 89411
Christi Roth, 68722
Rebecca Fitts, 69341
Rebecca Peake, 96092
Jane Wenstrom, 67547
Dave Hoffmann, 57311
Richard Elliott, 68847
George Field, 04210
Rex Stephens, 67017
Barbara Reynolds, 28806
Jerry Rice, 72037
Richard Holloway, Jr, 21034
Jerome Ries, 52330
Gregg Riggs, 46133
Riley Jensen, 58653
Roger Heier, 67737
Rick Juchems, 50666
Robert Voegeli, 47031
richard weaver, 30139
Ryan Boone, 60951-6021
Rob Stout, 52353
Dan Roberts, 60447
Robert Meyer, 67001-9619
Rocco Morris, 38614
RODNEY SMITH, 50451
Roger Fischer, 73945
Ron Vogel, 51453
Rick Wurz, 59425
Roy Surovik, 76666
Ronald Plinsky, 67230
Russell Smith, 62670
Randall Hoffman, 64097
Rogers Hoyt, 77905
Robert Nielsen, 55338
Ron Shumack, 36475
Ryan Smith, 50309
Robert Toland, 56098
ryan smith, 50169
Sam Wipf, 56549
Sylvia Moore, 38477-6804
Sam Grilliot, 67570
Terry Schlagel, 57225
Bill Scott, 15071
Scott Nilson, 51023
Norman Flickinger, 67579
Christine Grant, 43767
Silas Smith, 27801
Shane Rosenkrance, 83251
Sharon Thernes, 68031-2038
Mary Shawcroft, 81140
Bob Sheetz, 67131
Joe Shields, 46952
Russ Simpson, 24597-3013
Steve Simpson, 737
Steve Lueken, 52035
Debbie Thooft, 56157
Carmen Carter, 46979
Sharon DeHaan, 59715
Richard Skiver, 43512
Sarah Mitchell, 17601
Steve Matthes, 57533
Sherrie Miles, 71654
Joel Oldham, 62984
Steve Moore, 36703
LARRY LANGENBERG, 52317-9558
Essie Patterson, 38756
donald peterson, 58201
Scott Pumroy, 60178
Sue FitzGerald, 59337
Steven Sinisi, 04222
Stephen Romsdahl, 56081
Steve Kaufman, 83501
Steven Persinger, 67645
Nick Striegel, 52247
Dan Piekarski, 56537
Michael Summerlin, 36258
Brad Sunderland, 56260
Susan Enfield, 80301
Corey Cervin, 55324
Tim Wells, 72450
Tyler Roskamp, 62373
Tanner Kirby, 62424
Lance Gardner, 83221
Tom Shimek, 50466
Terry Histed, 48747
Steve Tewksbury, 57445
Ranae Berg, 56042
Paul Thomas, 61231
Thomas Marhefka, 15942
Tim Canterbury, 81233
Tim Luebkemann, 62278
Tim Terwilliger, 50548
Tim Munns, 84336
Timothy Fichtel, 53937
Todd Darr, 42330
Joslin Schott, 52327
Tom Croner, 15530
tom murray, 46996
Tom Schoofs, 53040
Tom Wilson, 62935
Brian Top, 57103
Todd Schilling, 79325
TIM PRENATT, 16354
Travis Worman, 62424
Patricia Vice, 80818
Troy Milne, 64473
Tammy Woten, 69156
THOMAS STRUTT, 53582
Lance Verhoeff, 81044
Duane Klein, 68025
Violet Bowers, 74133
Lowell Mueller, 68031
Virginia M Spafford-Bassett, 61769
Virgil Two Eagle Sr, 57772
Vernon Wilson, 38583
Lee Peterson, 55337
Wade Harrison, 38119
Stephen Wallpe, 47944
Lowell Friedline, 15531
Wayne Streitmatter, 61517
David Welch, 15530
Gerald Walker, 62358
Wayne Fornstrom, 82941
Wayne Freese, 56187
Mike Whitson, 38259
WILLIAM Shirk, 17519
William Shively, 43074
Dwight Wolfe, 36832
Bill Fryar, 46382
Wade Simpson, 30253
LaVon Griffieon, 50023
Monty Zapf, 46140
Paul ZIMMERMAN, 56093
Rick Miesner, 63748
joel waldner, 57382
Brad Zierke, 56027
William Dometrorch, 65279
Donnie Tollison, 29644
Johnnie Batten, 31533
Brian Franta, 55335
KEN K, 72370
Grant Fridy, 38251
Mark Hill, 61068
Jack Reichenberger, 66018
Beulah Schicker, 63122
Anne Grassl, 99326
Arlo Blumhagen, 58736
Amy Porteus, 43812
Audie Murphy, 27883
Arthur Swicegood, 27592
Alan Basar, 16259
RICK STENGEL, 68326
AJ Wormuth, 13060
Alan Krick, 83832
Alan Volpp, 60140-8559
Andrew Mushrush, 62466
Brian O’Connell, 54011
Joyce Godbout
Brad Rode
Dave Hammock