Unpaid grants.

Unpaid contracts.

Unpaid reimbursements.

This is what American farmers are dealing with today in the aftermath of the federal government's hurried and careless policy of "move fast and break things."

As the new administration vows to hold good on its promise to end "wasteful" spending, it's farmers who are actually paying the price.

Hundreds of farming operations are reeling from unpaid contracts for improvements and upgrades to fencing, water systems, energy projects, conservation practices, and grants to support agricultural entrepreneurs.

Because it turns out that billionaires don't know anything about ag and farming.

Now, livelihoods are at stake as farmers suddenly can't reach USDA employees they work closely with and access to loans and lines of credit are shaky at best. Those in power are taking a chainsaw to small towns, small businesses, and entire rural economies – places that are already operating on thin margins.

It's important to remember that when people talk about gutting the USDA, this is what that means: nonpayment, voided contracts, and farmers on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Heidi

Heidi Heitkamp, Former U.S. Senator for North Dakota
Founder, One Country Project