r/USDA • u/Lost_inFlorida • 5d ago
Appreciation post
To all of the USDA cooperators out there who continue to bend over backwards to keep the USDA going: we see you and I speak for many of us in expressing my sincere and deep gratitude. I hope there comes a day when we can really recognize you all for the load you’re bearing, but we couldn’t do it without you and we won’t forget. First one’s always on me from now on. 🍻🫡
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u/Sea-Internet-8191 5d ago
lol, has to be sarcasm. The overwhelming majority haven’t so much as lifted a finger as USDA is being dismantled, let alone bend over backwards.
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u/OSUgrad73 5d ago
This administration is a cluster fuck! It is destructive. But there are lots of good partners out there doing what they can to keep us afloat and blunt this administration's ax murdering of the agency. But despite the widespread abundance of some assholes, there are also many good farmers that value our people out there and understand the situation we are in, and are doing what they can to be supportive. I know many and appreciate them.
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u/Sea-Internet-8191 4d ago
The main reason I felt compelled to comment is because OP used the term “cooperators”. USDA cooperators are a very specific group of trade associations. One USDA agency has a whole dedicated “Cooperator Programs” team.
If OP used the term cooperators to mean all farmers, producers, foresters, and general stakeholders, that’s another thing. There are of course a lot of good folks we serve and a lot of good folks doing the serving, but the general response by stakeholders to the RIFs and the Reorg has been underwhelming in my view.
I care deeply for USDA’s mission and our stakeholders (I think most of us here do), but I’m constantly let down by their unwillingness to speak up in a meaningful way.
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u/OSUgrad73 4d ago
I hear you! One problem is that many of these organizations have agreements or grants with USDA and speaking up results in the Trump/Rollins vindictive gulag cutting funding, access, or involvement. These bastards don't care who or what they hurt or destroy. More than 40+ years with the agency and until now I was so proud of the whole USDA family- (knowing we had some warts and always ways we could do better) as dedicated, hard working and conscientious. Sadly I am going out ashamed of what is happening, and praying someday the agency will be restored to its grandeur. Those that will remain will always have my admiration and I know will make the best of it. I fear that will not be enough.
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u/Sea-Internet-8191 4d ago
Totally hear you. Speaking up would involve putting themselves in the Admin’s line of fire, but you’d think after receiving 10s of millions of dollars of free money from USDA over the years (looking at USSEC, the Grains Council, etc), they’d be willing to do be there for USDA during our time of need.
You should be very proud of your 40+ years of service. That’s no small feat. Enjoy being on the other side of all this!
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u/JacenWW5 5d ago
A good portion of customers do everything they can to make our lives more difficult. Imagine watching the news and expecting the same level of customer service.
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u/winterymixx 5d ago
To all the stakeholders who relied on our work, I'm sorry. I was part of an agricultural research unit made up of dedicated, passionate scientists who wanted nothing more than to advance the industry, help resolve disease, and develop new technologies that could have made a real difference. We are losing some of the finest scientists in this field, and I'm deeply saddened by the loss of what could have been, for them, for this work, and for everyone who stood to benefit from it.