By Olympia Breen, Biology Major, Mentor Eva Stricker. Before President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office, he had vowed to make cuts and reallocate government spending. Since January 20th, 2025, there have been firings, contract freezes, and budget delays. Many federally funded grants have been paused, their projects often following suit. Our producers in New Mexico, as well as agricultural scientists, are already experiencing the effects of funding freezes. Trying new things, like a new regenerative practice, or a shift to more of a permaculture-based method, is risky. Not every experiment works out. Federal grants reduce the risk that ending the year with a bad harvest will take away the livelihood of a farmer or rancher. Agricultural researchers often get, at the least, a decent chunk of their funding from federal grants. By pausing these grants, we pause science. Society invests in sustainable agriculture to keep food production needs met while avoiding ecological and financial disasters, such as the Dust Bowl. Agricultural professionals are at the edge of their seats, uncertain if their livelihoods or projects will need to be put onto the chopping block. For my Grand Challenges project, I have interviewed farmers, ranchers, and agricultural scientists who have received funding from the federal government. I will ask about their fears, any patterns they are noticing, discussions they have had, what their work is/was and how their work has been affected. I will take their stories and turn it into a one page, front and back, collection of information. The format of this information sheet also allows it to be distributed easily as an 8×11 print out, in the way a pamphlet would be spread. By collecting this information in a neat two-pager, I will effectively communicate the situation at hand with our food production system.
