Amid Federal Shakeup, Kaine Hears Concerns from Loudoun Farmers

Scott Harris of Catoctin Creek Distillery said retaliatory EU tariffs ended his company's expansion into European markets. (Credit: Norman Styer, Loudoun Now)

In mid-February, members of Loudoun’s agricultural community shared concerns about the transformation underway in the federal government with Virginia Sen. Timothy M. Kaine. A panel told Kaine that spending freezes have impacted grant funding for important projects, tariffs threaten to drive up costs and reduce their markets, and immigration policies limit access to critical labor.  Said Kaine:

“The uncertainty is very difficult. Around the table, you have folks whose business is dependent on a healthy economy A lot of people around the table have applied for grants. Those dollars aren’t flowing and there’s an uncertainty effect. And here we are a few weeks away from spring starting, which is a really important time for farmers to start planning and undertaking projects, and they're not sure where they’ll be.”

Read more at Loudoun Now. Thanks to Norman Styer for the coverage.