USDA Vermont Staff Cuts Leave Small Farmers Without Conservation Program Support
NewsData.io · United States · Sep 29, 2026
Vermont's USDA offices lost 27% of their staff — 92 employees — through cuts and resignations, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service alone losing 31 positions statewide. The reductions have created application backlogs, reduced transparency, and shrunk the share of Vermont farmers receiving conservation program funding from 44% in 2024 to just 14% in 2025. Farm Service Agency staffing cuts have also restricted farmers' access to loans and disaster assistance. Staffing firms serving agricultural or public-sector clients may find growing demand as federal agencies struggle to maintain program delivery with severely reduced headcount.
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