‘Farmers Are Frustrated’: Harrisburg Nonprofit Holds Town Hall on USDA Funding Freeze

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Rob Dunning was expecting a new fence to be installed this month at his Bangor sheep dairy — paid for by a federal grant.

However, because of a freeze on federal funding instituted by President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, Dunning has had to use money already budgeted for a different project.

“We’ve got to keep the business going,” Dunning, owner of Raspberry Ridge Creamery, said. “We have actually already purchased a reduced version of our fence and had it installed.

“Those funds were moved from a different project, which was going to increase our milking system. So we’re not going to be able to experience the growth and, ultimately, the revenue that we had hoped would have been possible with the assistance with the fence.”

Dunning was among several speakers Wednesday at a virtual town hall held by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.