The USDA has followed a policy of extensive support of small-scale farmers, “clean energy” projects and for “underserved” communities.
In a recent release, USDA identified distribution of more than $20 billion iunder the misnamed Inflation Reduction Act. Funds were allocated to:
- $4 billion in conservation funding to promote “climate-smart practices”
- Support of 7,000 farmers and rural businesses to develop clean energy and energy efficiency installations.
- Assignment of $8.3 billion in grants to support transformation of rural electric cooperatives to solar and wind powered generation, claimed to supply 10 gigawatts annually.
- $2.6 billion to reduce risk of wildfire on 1.8 million acres.
- $1.5 billion for urban and community forestry programs with special emphasis on disadvantaged communities.
- $3 billion assigned to the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities involving 21,000 farms.
Over the past four years the USDA has attempted to restructure the meat production industry and reduce the use of carbon-based fuels with little evidence of major changes. The USDA refers to grants as “investments”. This presumes a quantifiable return on the capital allocated. There is apparently little oversight over projects or the evaluation of their effectiveness.