Harlingen Farm Advocate Battles USDA Over Lost $7.4M Grant

Salomon Torres of Soluciones Consulting is appealing the decision to cancel a grant meant to support small farmers in the Rio Grande Valley.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:33am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a weathered wooden toolbox and a few farming implements like pruning shears and a trowel, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background and lit dramatically to convey the challenges and resilience of small-scale agriculture.A weathered toolbox and simple farming tools symbolize the struggles and determination of small-scale producers in the Rio Grande Valley.Harlingen Today

A Harlingen-based consultant named Salomon Torres of Soluciones Consulting is leading the fight to restore a canceled $7.4 million USDA grant that was meant to support small farmers in the Rio Grande Valley and other Texas regions. Torres says HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability will appeal the decision with help from members of Congress and seek other funding to keep new and existing small producers on the land.

Why it matters

The loss of this grant is a significant setback for small and disadvantaged farmers in the Rio Grande Valley, who often struggle to access the resources and support they need to sustain their operations. Torres and his organization are taking on the USDA to try to reverse this decision and find alternative funding to support these vulnerable farming communities.

The details

The $7.4 million USDA grant was intended to provide critical assistance to small and new farmers in the Rio Grande Valley region, helping them access the tools, training, and infrastructure they need to be successful. However, the USDA has now canceled the grant, prompting Torres and his organization to appeal the decision and seek other funding sources to continue supporting these farmers.

  • The $7.4 million USDA grant was originally awarded in 2025.
  • The USDA canceled the grant in early 2026.

The players

Salomon Torres

A Harlingen-based consultant and the founder of Soluciones Consulting, who is leading the fight to restore the canceled USDA grant and find alternative funding to support small farmers in the Rio Grande Valley.

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture, which awarded and then canceled the $7.4 million grant that was meant to support small and disadvantaged farmers in the Rio Grande Valley region.

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What they’re saying

“We need to address the needs of disadvantaged small farmers”

— Salomon Torres, Founder, Soluciones Consulting

What’s next

Torres and his organization, HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability, plan to appeal the USDA's decision to cancel the $7.4 million grant. They will seek help from members of Congress and explore other funding sources to continue supporting small and disadvantaged farmers in the Rio Grande Valley.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by small and disadvantaged farmers, particularly in underserved regions like the Rio Grande Valley. The loss of this critical USDA grant is a setback, but the efforts of advocates like Salomon Torres to fight the decision and find alternative funding sources demonstrate the importance of supporting these vulnerable farming communities.