Group urges USDA to keep MD ag research center open

Source: Solutions From the Land news release

LUTHERVILLE, MD. (Aug. 26) - Today, Solutions from the Land submitted the following statement in response to USDA's call for comments on the Department's proposed reorganization plan.

Dear Secretary Rollins:

On behalf of Solutions from the Land, a farmer and scientist-led nonprofit dedicated to advancing agricultural solutions to state, national, and global challenges, we write to express our deep concern over the element of your July 24th memorandum that proposes the closure of the USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC).

While we recognize and appreciate your commitment to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of USDA operations, closing the Beltsville research campus would represent a profound setback for American agriculture. BARC, with its 6,200 acres of research facilities and long-standing programs, is a cornerstone of U.S. agricultural science. Its closure would:

• Lead to the loss of world-class scientific talent.

• Halt long-term, regionally relevant research plots and projects that are impossible to replicate elsewhere.

• Severely diminish USDA's and its partners' capacity to translate research breakthroughs into practical, on-the-ground solutions. The consequences of shuttering BARC would be far-reaching, placing agricultural productivity, farmer profitability, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture at significant risk at a time when global food systems face mounting challenges.

We acknowledge that BARC facilities suffer from deferred maintenance; however, these challenges can and should be addressed through strategic capital investments. With modernized infrastructure, BARC can continue to deliver groundbreaking science and serve as a vital resource for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural innovators for generations to come.

For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to reconsider the proposed closure of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and instead commit to revitalizing this critical research hub. Its continued operation is essential not only for advancing agricultural science but also for safeguarding the enduring strength and competitiveness of American agriculture.

Thank you for your leadership and consideration. We stand ready to work with you and your team to ensure USDA fulfills its mission to serve farmers, ranchers, and the broader public through sound science and innovation.

About Solutions from the Land

Solutions from the Land (SfL) is a farmer/scientist-led 501c3 nonprofit focused on land-based solutions to global challenges. SfL builds and facilitates state, national and global initiatives and alliances through which farmers, ranchers, foresters and collaborating partners showcase examples of innovation and proactively advocate for policies, partnerships, investments and research that will enable agricultural landscapes to deliver near-term, cost-effective, integrated solutions to global mega-challenges: food and energy security; sustainable economic development; and environmental improvement. For more information, visit www.solutionsfromtheland.org.