After Months Navigating Funding Freeze, Sullivan CCE Beginner Farmer Program Returns

Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Beginner Farmer program is back after several months navigating frozen federal funds.

At the July 10 Sullivan County legislative meeting, the Extension’s Agriculture & Food Systems Senior Issue Leader Melinda Meddaugh announced that the Extension’s account funds had been unfrozen, allowing the program to restart in June.

“We’re able to continue the different workshops and technical assistance, especially the workshops that [we] were offering for free,” Meddaugh told Radio Catskill.

The Beginner Farmer Program assists beginner farmers in the Catskills-Hudson Valley region through farmer-to-farmer mentoring, networking, and an intensive learning cohort. The program aims to support beginner farmers operating for less than ten years.

In March, the Trump administration froze more than $2 million in funding for Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension, which included halted funds for its Beginner Farmer Program and Sullivan Fresh mobile farmers market. Meddaugh said that they heard back the funds were unfrozen in May.

Now that the program has returned, 11 mentors and 11 mentees have resumed learning about all things essential to operating a successful farm, including managing soil health, rotational grazing, and reviewing financial plans.

Although the Extension’s funds have been unfrozen, the broader farming community is still reeling from frozen funds and suspended programs that directly affect farmers. Several Sullivan County farmers who were expecting USDA grants they were approved for are still waiting. The USDA also cut a $1 billion program for schools and food banks to purchase directly from local farmers.

“Right now, it’s up in the air. We just take it as it comes and hopefully the program doesn’t freeze again,” said Meddaugh.

You can find more information about the Beginner Farmer Program on Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension’s website or by phone at 845-292-6180.

Image: A shovel in the soil at a farm (Photo Credit: Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension)