The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially terminated its Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC) initiative, launching a new farmer-centric program titled Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP). The move signals a significant pivot in U.S. agricultural policy, shifting focus toward direct support for producers and streamlining ESG efforts within the farming sector. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the change, citing excessive administrative costs and inefficiencies under the previous program. “We are cutting bureaucratic red tape, streamlining reporting, lowering the paperwork burden on producers and putting farmers first,” Rollins stated. The USDA’s new strategy aligns ESG priorities with tangible benefits for agricultural stakeholders while preserving carbon neutral strategy goals. 

AMP requires that at least 65% of federal funds directly benefit producers, eliminating layers of bureaucracy. To qualify, projects must meet three core criteria by the end of 2024: direct fund allocation to producers, enrollment of at least one producer, and verified payment to participating farmers. This updated approach is designed to empower rural communities and bolster climate-resilient agricultural practices without introducing new federal expenditures. 

Importantly, the USDA emphasized that AMP will operate within existing PCSC funding. No new funds will be allocated, and only eligible costs incurred before April 13, 2025, will be honored. Ongoing projects will be individually reviewed and transitioned under the new guidelines. 

While the PCSC program aimed to integrate sustainability into commodity supply chains, critics argued it disproportionately favored non-governmental organizations over actual producers. The AMP framework reorients U.S. climate policy back to its foundational agricultural base, emphasizing accountability and ESG performance at the grassroots level. 

As global demand grows for sustainable, low-carbon agriculture, the USDA’s shift to AMP highlights a more focused, impact-driven carbon neutral strategy that reaffirms the role of American farmers in advancing climate resilience and food security. 

Sources: 

https://esgnews.com/usda-ends-climate-smart-program-launches-farmer-first-alternative/  

https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/04/14/usda-cancels-biden-era-climate-slush-fund-reprioritizes-existing-funding-farmers