ALDERSON, W. Va. (WVVA) -The effects of the cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency are being felt here in the Two Virginias, with one local farmer sharing her story.
When one Monroe County farmer first heard that the federal programs that her farm benefited from were facing cuts, she at first didn’t believe it. “Sunset Berry Farm” is not a large business, with produce that you won’t find at most supermarket chains.
“And that is the really sad part about all of this. These cuts are affecting these small farms, small businesses owners that are just barely surviving, so these are businesses who struggle already prior to these cuts, and we can’t afford these cuts,” says Jennifer Gilkerson, owner of Sunset Berry Farm.
Three USDA grant programs that the farm participates in all received “major cuts:” The Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program, Farm to Food Bank, and Farm to School, the last of which providing kids with locally grown, healthy foods. Gilkerson disagrees with people who call the programs ‘farm welfare’ and says cutting them is a “horrible decision.”
“How important is your food? Food is a very important thing. We’ve got to stop relying on other countries to feed our people. We need to feed our own people. So, it’s not welfare for farmers. It is food stability and food security for the United States of America,” says Gilkerson.
Gilkerson says these cuts will be “very devastating” for them, but they hope to move forward regardless. However, she hopes that the government will follow through on the agreements made to farmers.
She encourages the federal government to reconsider its decision and says they should instead support the nation’s businesses, farms, and people.
Copyright 2025 WVVA. All rights reserved.