A federal freeze on certain USDA programs has held up billions of dollars for conservation and caused layoffs at a nonprofit in Iowa that supports soil and water quality.

An Iowa group devoted to soil and water conservation in farm country fired most of its staff as the USDA stopped grant payments. It’s not an isolated

Farmers complaining about Trump’s ongoing funding freeze to Agriculture Department programs are receiving mixed messages from Republicans in Congress.

Many farmers are awaiting payments on contracts and have not been told when or if they will receive expected funding. Billions of dollars are at stake