‘A slap in the face’: small farmers say Trump is turning his back on them
Small-scale farmers in Iowa are expressing frustration as the USDA cuts funding for agricultural programs, citing concerns over DEI initiatives and wasteful spending. These programs previously provided essential resources and training for new farmers without family connections to the industry.
Why it matters
The shift in USDA funding priorities highlights a growing political divide over federal support for small-scale agriculture versus traditional industrial farming.
Emmaly Renshaw and Jason Grimm of Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development inspect potato plants at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm in Iowa City, Iowa, on 2 July 2026. Photograph: Danny Wilcox Frazier Emmaly Renshaw and Jason Grimm of Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development inspect potato plants at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm in Iowa City, Iowa, on 2 July 2026. Photograph: Danny Wilcox Frazier American crossroads Farming ‘A slap in the face’: small farmers say Trump is turning his back on them The president wooed farmers in his campaign, but now the USDA is yanking funding, citing ‘DEI’ and wasteful spending
The framing focuses on the negative impact on individuals and uses emotive language like 'slap in the face' to describe the policy change.
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