Minnesota agriculture institute joins lawsuit against USDA to save grant funding

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) in Minnesota has filed a lawsuit against the USDA, claiming the unlawful cancellation of DEI grants jeopardizes critical agricultural initiatives. The suit alleges that the USDA's abrupt decision violated federal law by failing to conduct individual reviews before slashing funding for various programs. One significant project affected was IATP's $111,695 grant for the MinneAg Network, which aimed to connect farmers with industry stakeholders. Erin McKee VanSlooten, the program director, lamented the loss of 18 months of work and expressed concerns for the future of their project. The lawsuit names USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, who has made statements about refocusing funding away from diversity efforts.

The USDA has not commented on the legal proceedings, which emphasize the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration's policies and diversity initiatives in agriculture. The plaintiffs represent a broad coalition of agricultural groups advocating for nontraditional farmers and sustainable practices. This case could have significant implications for DEI funding in the agricultural sector moving forward.