Reflection on Agricultural Funding in 2025

The landscape of the USDA has changed significantly over the last year. A recent Office of Inspector General report confirmed the Department lost over 20,300 employees in the first six months of 2025—roughly one-fifth of its total workforce. These departures
resulted from a combination of retirements, layoffs, and the Deferred Resignation Program.

In New Mexico, approximately 658 federal employees departed, representing 23% of the state’s USDA positions. The impacts are felt most acutely in two key areas:

• U.S. Forest Service: Lost 5,860 employees nationwide (16% of its workforce).

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Lost 2,673 employees (22% of staff).

In New Mexico specifically, NRCS staffing decreased by 33%. For our state’s farmers and ranchers, this reduction in personnel may lead to longer wait times for conservation planning and technical assistance as fewer staff manage an increasing workload.

Several conservation and commodity programs have undergone significant changes or reviews at the national level:

• Climate-Smart Commodities: In April 2025, the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities was cancelled nationwide. This program had $666 million earmarked for 21 projects across 27 commodities in New Mexico.
• Water Saving Commodities: This program, which included up to $15 million for the Elephant Butte Irrigation District and the NM
  State Association of Conservation Districts, currently remains under review.

While the 2018 Farm Bill has seen multiple extensions since 2023, Congress utilized the budget reconciliation process in July 2025 to
pass H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This legislation moved $59 billion toward increased payments and risk management for
large-scale commodity producers.

Additionally, a separate legislative move removed payment limitations for EQIP and CSP. While this allows for more substantial
investments in high-cost conservation projects, some advocates for small-scale agriculture expressed concern that this may reduce the share of funding available for smaller operations.

Navigating these shifts in long-standing programs can be daunting. As these federal policies continue to evolve, we encourage our
members to lean into our local agricultural networks. By sharing information and staying engaged with neighbors, we can better
understand our community’s needs and advocate for New Mexico’s diverse agricultural landscape together.