Funding Cuts Hit Local Farm Programs

By Blake Jackson

The USDA has canceled around $660 million in funding for local food programs that previously helped schools buy produce from small farmers.

These initiatives, including the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS), were established during the former administration to strengthen food supply chains and support local farming.

Programs like LFS allowed guaranteed sales to farmers, boosting their incomes and enabling them to invest in equipment, land, and staffing.

For instance, Kansas City Food Hub supported over $500,000 in sales in 2024, with hopes to reach $1 million. Now, without the funding, they are working with school districts in Missouri and Kansas to keep agreements going.

Thomas Smith from the Kansas City Food Hub emphasized the pressure the cuts put on farming communities: “We really figured out how to get local farm product into community spaces under LFS and LFPA.”

Missouri farmer Mike Pearl shared how the contracts helped him scale up faster, but the cutbacks now force him to reduce production.

Other farmers worry about losses, while Springfield Community Gardens' founder, Maile Auterson, expressed concern about broken trust -

“We promised the farmers,” Auterson said. “The biggest insult to us is that we cannot follow through on the promises we made to the farmers that we had made with that money.”

Despite the setback, schools like Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit are trying to maintain their supply chains. Reports show that students eat more fruits and vegetables when schools offer farm-fresh food, and cafeterias even see reduced waste and increased savings in the long run.

The new administration plans a federal school meal overhaul, aiming to focus on simpler, healthy foods. However, local advocates fear the shift is more about political changes than food improvements.

Farmers and food hubs remain hopeful that local partnerships can continue to support healthier school meals and fair farm prices despite federal withdrawal.

Photo Credit: usda