The Brewers Association (BA) has learned that multiple breweries have not received payments committed by the USDA under the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP). The funds were frozen by one of the President’s recent executive orders. On March 17, the BA met with USDA staff administering the program to express concerns and advocate for the release of the funds, as brewers undertook substantial capital investments in reliance on these grant approvals.

Last month the BA learned that multiple USDA scientists working on barley and hop research were terminated as a result of recent federal workforce cuts. Since that time, several (but not all) of these scientists have been reinstated in their jobs. The BA continues to advocate for funding of important research into barley and hops to develop strains resistant to pests and disease, improve yields, and for other purposes.