A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture and several other federal agencies to release billions of dollars in funding tied to the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, halting the Biden administration’s freeze on these allocations.

The preliminary injunction, issued earlier this week by U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy in Rhode Island, prevents the USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the departments of Energy, Interior, and Housing and Urban Development from suspending or delaying funds that were already awarded under the two laws.

U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan had extended the temporary order blocking a broad plan that aimed to freeze what could amount to trillions of dollars in federal spending. Although the memo detailing the freeze has been withdrawn, the Republican administration has indicated it still intends to pursue some form of funding freeze as part of its wave of executive actions.

According to The Associated Press, the agencies are required to immediately resume the processing and distribution of those funds.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought by conservation organizations and nonprofit groups, challenging the administration’s decision to pause disbursements. 

In addition to lifting the freeze, McElroy directed the White House Office of Management and Budget and the National Economic Council to formally notify all affected federal agencies about the court’s decision and ordered agencies to notify grant recipients as well. Agencies were to provide the court with a status update by Wednesday.

So far, no updates on the status have been published. 

The USDA had received a significant portion of IRA funding for conservation initiatives designed to promote climate-smart agricultural practices. Programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program were central to the effort, with commitments totaling billions of dollars in federal support. For example, EQIP alone was set to receive $8.45 billion, while RCPP was allocated $4.9 billion.

In addition to conservation funding, the USDA was awarded $13.5 billion under the IRA for renewable energy efforts, including initiatives such as the Rural Energy for America Program and the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program. Before the freeze, the USDA had announced dozens of contracts and funding opportunities for both farmers and rural communities through these programs.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had previously noted that the USDA was working to roll out conservation funds signed under the Biden administration, which aggressively pushed to secure contracts and distribute financial assistance for climate-related projects. However, the future of many of those contracts became uncertain when the administration paused IRA-related spending.

A new study by Texas A&M shows chicken fertility rates in U.S. broiler eggs could decline to approximately 60 percent by 2050. That decline could lead to chicken production issues and higher costs for consumers.

The study, published in Poultry Science by Cara Cash, a graduate student in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Poultry Science. Graduate student Kolton Witherspoon also contributed to the research.

To assess fertility trends, researchers analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service from 2013 to 2022. Their analysis revealed significant declines in essential production metrics, including hatchability, chick viability and production efficiency.

“The analysis validates concerns that have circulated in the poultry industry for years,” said Giri Athrey, Ph.D., study co-author and avian geneticist and associate professor in the Department of Poultry Science. “This study is the first to paint a clear picture of the problem and forecast future declines. The more that gap grows, the greater the expense will be for the industry to meet consumer demand and the more likely those economic impacts will trickle into grocery stores.”

Broiler fertility rate drops

Athrey said the publication identified an alarming trend that had been talked about within the poultry industry for years. It provides a statistically and scientifically supported prediction of continued hatchability declines in broiler chicken eggs.

Hatchability refers to the percentage of fertile eggs that successfully hatch into healthy chicks during incubation. Athrey said approximately 12 billion eggs are needed each year to produce to 9 billion broiler chickens — a success rate of 75 percent. 

If current trends continue, the analysis suggests hatchability rates could fall to 60 percent by 2050.

Fertility rates and meat production

The study comes as demand for U.S. chicken meat continues to increase. From 2013 to 2022, U.S. production increased from 18.85 million to 23.15 million tons. During that same period, annual per capita chicken consumption jumped from just over 82 pounds to almost 101 pounds.

Broiler breeding fertility rates are a foundational component to sustaining that growth. In response to declining fertility, producers have increased the number of eggs set — an approach Athrey said can also increase costs across the supply chain.

To support deeper analysis, the research team developed a Broiler Breeder Performance Index, a tool that incorporates hatchability and production indicators to model fertility trends over time. The study also explores potential contributing factors, including management practices and genetic selection strategies.

Athrey said the findings highlight the need for further research to explore sustainable solutions to poultry fertility rates and broiler hatchability.

“Our goal was to better understand what the data can tell us about long-term fertility trends,” Athrey said. “These findings may help inform future research into improving reproductive performance in broiler breeders.”

Organic farmers, food system organizers, and legislators gathered on April 16 at the Maine State House for the Farmer Day of Action — a tractor parade and rally calling on federal leaders to honor commitments for funding that benefits small farms, conservation methods, and local food systems.

Other events were held in Middlebury, Vermont, as well as virtually. 

The demonstration was organized by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association through partnerships with groups like the Crown O’Maine Organic Cooperative. The aim was to highlight the economic squeeze Maine’s organic and small farmers feel in the wake of deep federal program cuts, layoffs, and the cancellation of critical U.S. Department of Agriculture contracts.

On top of the loss of funding, these farm groups have been hit with canceled climate projects, delayed contract payments, and the elimination of millions of dollars in local food purchasing contracts — monies that subsidized farm-to-school partnerships, food banks, conservation projects, and infrastructure. Insult has been added to injury as tariffs and rises in equipment costs are forcing many producers into making difficult financial decisions.

One rally participant, for example, was Kevin Leavitt, owner of Farmer Kev’s Organic in Winthrop, Maine. He said he was promised a $45,000 grant from the USDA’s Rural Energy For America Program and now stands to lose a loan he took out to kickstart a green energy project, and potentially foot the entire cost of roughly $150,000.

Sarah Alexander, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association noted that her organization is seeing 14 different USDA contracts totaling more than $1 million being impacted.

The uncertainty has left some farmers questioning whether they will be reimbursed for work already performed under federal contracts, a move that has sparked widespread anger within Maine’s farming community.

The morning began at Manley and State Streets, where farmers had parked tractors and trucks in line to creep slowly to the Capitol. The audience then gathered near the Cross Building to hear speakers, including farmers, policymakers, and activists, who voiced dismay at how recent federal decisions are undermining decades of hard-won progress for Maine’s agriculture industry.

“We’re standing up for Maine farmers because these federal cuts don’t just affect them — they affect the entire food system,” said one organizer. “When farmers lose out, local schools, food banks, and families lose out too.”

The organic farmers also took the opportunity to urge federal lawmakers to re-introduce the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act, modeled after successful legislation in Maine, which aims to ensure a financial safety net for farmers whose livelihood is threatened by PFAS pollution.

Attendees penned letters, often including handwritten notes describing their farms, and sent them to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Legislators such as state Sens. Henry Ingwersen, Stacy Brenner, and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree joined the crowd, pledging their continued support for Maine farms and the local food economy.

According to Deb Soifer, Pingree offered to to carry a bucket of organic, Maine-grown hog manure back to D.C. 

On Saturday, April 19, another Farmer Day of Action will take place at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. The event is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. CT and will feature a lineup of speakers, including Missouri farmer and social media influencer Will Westmoreland.

»Related: USDA scraps $3 billion climate program, citing lack of farm impact