Farm Commons, a nonprofit organization that creates legal tools for farmers, has developed a helpful resource, USDA Contract Freezes and Terminations: Legal Action Steps for Farmers with Signed Contracts. This guide provides clear information for farmers and ranchers nationwide who have a signed contract with the USDA but face concerns about contracts being frozen, placed under review, or terminated, and who are uncertain of their rights to receive reimbursement. You can download this resource by clicking here.
This resource is also for producers who need to understand their rights to receive reimbursement and their ongoing obligations under signed contracts. It provides solutions to critical questions: How can farmers make an appeal or bring a lawsuit to enforce the contract? Are farmers required to fulfill contract obligations even if funding has been frozen?
Farm Commons recently held an informative webinar on this topic, Terminated and Frozen USDA Funding: Filing an Appeal to Protect Your Rights. A recording of this program is available here for those who wish to learn more about protecting their farm operations.
Additionally, Farm Commons has created a practical document USDA Contract Freezes: Filing an NAD Appeal or Inquiry Letter, which clearly outlines the steps to file a National Appeals Division (NAD) appeal. It includes ready-to-use sample letters that farmers can customize to file their own appeal with NAD around the funding freeze. Download the free PDF by clicking here.
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Text adapted from the Farm Commons Library website.