Rep. Josh Riley is demanding accountability from Washington as delays in USDA payments leave Upstate New York farmers waiting on millions in promised funds.
The first-term congressman from New York’s 19th District introduced the Honor Farmer Contracts Act on Wednesday. The bill would force the USDA to release frozen funds tied to existing contracts and immediately pay overdue amounts to farmers and service providers. Riley called the current situation “insult to injury” for small farmers already under pressure from economic and environmental challenges.
“For the past two months, farms and rural support organizations have been stuck in limbo,” Riley said. “It’s time for the USDA to unfreeze these funds and pay what they owe our farmers.”
At least 150 farms and agricultural groups across New York are waiting on roughly $168 million in USDA funding. The delays affect climate-smart agriculture projects aimed at protecting water quality, reducing nutrient runoff, and preventing soil erosion. Farmers say they’ve already committed resources to projects under signed contracts and are now scrambling to cover costs.
Scott Glezen, a 7th-generation farmer from Lisle, said the funding freeze forced his operation to postpone vital work and divert resources just to meet contract terms. “All at great cost to our farm,” he said.
If passed, the Honor Farmer Contracts Act would do more than simply restart the flow of funds. It would prohibit the USDA from canceling contracts unless the farmer breaches the agreement, and it would ensure local farm service offices remain open so that rural producers can access federal support.
The legislation has already secured backing from a coalition of agricultural groups, including the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York and Black Farmers United—NYS Inc.
Riley’s proposal arrives amid broader concerns about fairness in federal agriculture policy. The congressman argues that smaller producers are getting squeezed while large corporate interests continue to benefit from the current system. His bill aims to restore trust between the federal government and rural communities by ensuring that signed commitments are honored.
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