USDA officials have heard from beginning farmers about their experiences with the agency – both the good and the bad – in an online town hall meeting.
A southern Illinois farmer told USDA officials about roadblocks to conservation program sign-up. Barbara Heyen, who inherited her parents farm four years ago, said land stewardship and conservation are very important to her, but, “As a beginning farmer I have not been eligible for CRP, CRP grasslands or programs requiring crop history for eligibility.
