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Agriculture

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree Leads Call to Release SARE Funding for Farmers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, a long-time farmer and member of the House Agriculture Committee, has led 15 Members of Congress in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately disburse nearly $50 million in funding for farmers that has been inexplicably delayed. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program funding for fiscal year 2025, if not released to regional partners by September 30th, will result in farmers and ranchers across the country losing out on the only producer-led program that supports research, demonstration, and education projects related to sustainable agriculture. The letter, signed by Pingree and her colleagues, highlights the critical need for this funding and its potential impact on farmers and ranchers facing increased costs and uncertainty.

Key Takeaways:

  • 15 Members of Congress, led by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, have called on the USDA to immediately disburse nearly $50 million in SARE program funding for fiscal year 2025.
  • The SARE program is the only producer-led program that supports research, demonstration, and education projects related to sustainable agriculture.
  • Without immediate action, farmers and ranchers will lose access to a critical source of federal support, impacting their livelihoods and land operations.
  • Since 1988, Maine has been awarded $11,027,630 in SARE grants to support 280 projects across the state.
  • The SARE program has supported a wide range of topics, including new farmer training, milk quality research, and tomato cultivation studies.
  • The letter emphasizes the unacceptable delay in funding distribution and urges the USDA to disburse the funding by September 30th to prevent producers from losing out on meaningful opportunities.

Statistics:

  • $50 million: The amount of SARE program funding for fiscal year 2025 that has been inexplicably delayed.
  • $11,027,630: The total amount of SARE grants awarded to Maine since 1988.
  • 280: The number of research and education projects, professional development projects, and producer-led projects supported by SARE grants in Maine since 1988.
  • 15: The number of Members of Congress who have signed the letter calling on the USDA to release SARE funding.

Sources:

  • Letter to Secretary Rollins from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and 14 other Members of Congress. [Available here](https://www.house.agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2025_09_20_letter_to_secretary_rollins_on_sare_funding_delay.pdf).
  • United States House of Representatives -- Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine) [Source](https://pingree.house.gov/).

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