PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) South Dakota farmers could be facing a tough choice with DOGE freezing USDA grant funds. Stephanie Peterson, owner of Fruit of the Coop in Brandon, says she was ready to roll on big plans for her business after being approved for a 36-thousand-dollar grant. But the USDA informed her last week that the funding is frozen because of the ongoing mass government spending cuts. Peterson says she knows other South Dakota farmers are being affected, too. The organization assisting farmers applying for USDA funding has also been cut. It’s unclear when or if farmers like Peterson who have already been approved for grants will receive the funds.
SD Farmers Affected By DOGE Grant Fund Freezes
South Dakota farmers, including Stephanie Peterson, owner of Fruit of the Coop in Brandon, are facing uncertainty due to the freezing of USDA grant funds. Peterson was set to move forward with significant business plans after being approved for a $36,000 grant, but last week, the USDA notified her that the funds were frozen due to ongoing government spending cuts.
