After a lawsuit, USDA agrees to share climate risk data with farmers

Grist

by Frida Garza

March 3, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to share climate risk data with farmers following a legal battle over the removal of critical climate-related resources. Environmental and agricultural nonprofits sued the agency after reports emerged that webpages mentioning climate change, including tools used by farmers to prepare for extreme weather, were being deleted under orders from the Trump administration. After several months of negotiations, the USDA settled the lawsuit, committing to keep its climate risk viewer—a tool containing over 140 layers of data, including maps on wildfire risk—online until plaintiffs receive the raw underlying datasets. This ensures that even if the webpages are taken down in the future, the information can be recreated and remains publicly accessible. The case gained traction after the USDA initially removed climate-related content shortly after President Trump took office in 2017. Environmental groups argued that this violated federal laws, including the Paperwork Reduction Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Plaintiffs emphasized the importance of these resources for farmers, particularly those relying on USDA tools to manage loans for climate-smart conservation practices. For example, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA) highlighted how these resources help farmers implement sustainable practices by covering financial costs. Despite the settlement, challenges remain for farmers seeking reliable access to USDA programs under the Trump administration. Many are still unclear about which loan programs are available, leaving them in a state of financial uncertainty. Additionally, concerns persist over potential cuts to conservation funding in future farm bills, which could further jeopardize efforts to protect soil health and adapt to climate change. Advocates argue

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Originally published on Grist on 3/3/2026