rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/call-to-action-farmers-under-threatcall-congress-today?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-call-to-action-farmers-under-threatcall-congress-today' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> CAFF: Community Alliance with Family Farmers https://actionnetwork.org/groups/caff https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/380/758/normal/CapayMills-0201.jpg Dear Advocate, Farmers, rural communities, and food system organizations are facing devastating consequences due to funding freezes at the US Department of Agriculture—despite court orders directing the funding to resume. Critical conservation payments, technical assistance, and grant reimbursements remain stalled, threatening farms, jobs, and livelihoods across the country. We need your voice! We know active outreach like calls to U.S. Congress offices are having an impact – USDA Secretary Rollins released some conservation funds just yesterday due to mounting pressure. And we need to maintain the momentum. CAFF has heard from farmers across California about how these program freezes at USDA are impacting their farms and the bottom line for farm businesses. Growers are experiencing holds on committed grants and contracts for solar panels, cold storage, crops grown for local food banks, and more. Farmers are unsure if the pauses will be permanent, and how they should proceed with operating costs, debts, and business growth. CAFF is also not immune. USDA terminated one grant that supports farmers with community supported agriculture, and placed others on pause, including direct financial assistance for urban farmers and farmers adapting to climate extremes. We are asking you to call or email your elected officials today and demand they take immediate action to ensure USDA honors its commitments and releases the funding that farmers and rural communities desperately need. Every day of delay puts more farms and jobs at risk—speak up now! Sincerely, Keely Cervantes Policy & Organizing Manager 📞 Call Your Elected Officials: Find Contact Info Here Call-In Script: Demand Congress Release Frozen Funds 📢 Opening: Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a [farmer/small business owner/concerned constituent] from [Your City, State]. I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative’s Name] to take immediate action to ensure USDA honors its commitments and releases the funding that farmers, rural communities, and food system organizations rely on. 🌱 Key Message: - Right now, USDA has frozen critical funding for conservation programs, technical assistance, and grants, despite court orders requiring the funding to continue.   - Farmers are facing debt, organizations are preparing for layoffs, and essential services are being cut off due to these delays.   - These are funds that were lawfully authorized by Congress and must be restored immediately.   📢 Ask: I urge [Senator/Representative’s Name] to demand that USDA and the Administration lift these unlawful funding freezes immediately and resume reimbursements. Will [he/she/they] take action to ensure this issue is addressed?   🚜 Closing: Thank you for your time. Please keep me updated on what [Senator/Representative’s Name] is doing to fix this issue. Farmers and rural communities are counting on your leadership!   🤳After Your Call: Let us know how it went! Every call makes a difference! https://actionnetwork.org/letters/call-to-action-farmers-under-threatcall-congress-today