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Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma food banks impacted by federal budget cuts to food assistance programs
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Food banks across the state are feeling the impact of federal budget cuts to food assistance programs. 'Literally, we've seen less food,' said Stacy Dykstra, the CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. 'So, it's really unsettling… When we lose these resources, it directly impacts people facing hunger in our state.' LOCAL NEWS: 'One of the most impactful Oklahomans ever': Public service held for David Boren The U.S. Agriculture Department slashed two federal programs that spent over $1 billion annually to help schools and food banks buy food from local farms and ranches. 'They're [food banks are] taking some of the hit now, but it's going to be over time that it builds, because they already have higher demand than they've ever had,' said Chris Bernard, the CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma. In a statement to KFOR earlier this month, the USDA said: 'USDA can confirm it has provided notice to States, Territories and Tribes that the FY 2025 funding previously announced for the pandemic-era Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement (LFSCC) and pandemic-era Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA25) is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification. These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance. AMS will resume processing claims for payment for LFPA and LFPA Plus for activities accruing prior to and after January 20, 2025.' USDA Spokesperson 'What that's going to do is make them [food banks] have to scramble to try and raise more money,' said Bernard. 'But honestly, there's only so much money you can raise as a charity, and so you're not going to be able to fully fill that gap.' LOCAL NEWS: Okla. Innovation Expansion Program opens applications March 31 – April 11, 2025 The cuts come as Oklahoma is ranked the 6th hungriest state in the nation. More than 15 percent of households across the state are considered food insecure. 'We've got to support our most vulnerable Oklahomans, who are, you know, falling on hard times and need a little support now and then,' said Dykstra. Bernard said while the loss of the programs is 'significant,' it's 'not world ending.' However, he is worried more federal programs could eventually be cut as well, leading to a bigger issue. 'It will be a pain point, but something that you can try and kind of figure out how to address over time,' said Bernard. 'The problem is, it's not in a vacuum, and there are lots of other things happening that are putting more pressures on households and reducing the amount of resources going to folks in need. And that's where you're going to see the system start to crumble.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Not what we voted for': Programs funneling farmers' food to schools, food banks cut
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Federal funds impacting Oklahoma farmers, schools and food banks are on the chopping block. The U.S. Agriculture Department has cut two federal programs that spent over $1 billion annually to help schools and food banks buy food from local farms and ranches. USDA can confirm it has provided notice to States, Territories and Tribes that the FY 2025 funding previously announced for the pandemic-era Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement (LFSCC) and pandemic-era Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA25) is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification. These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance. AMS will resume processing claims for payment for LFPA and LFPA Plus for activities accruing prior to and after January 20, 2025. USDA Spokesperson Hunger Free Oklahoma expects Oklahoma to lose up to $30 million in funding. 'Really the hardest hit area is your local growers and food hubs that help sort of consolidate the products into one place that the schools and food banks can buy from,' said Chris Bernard, CEO and president, Hunger Free Oklahoma. Christina Farris, a farmer in Fort Cobb, says she is blown away by the decision. 'The first thing we thought was they just want to get rid of all the small farmers and just have mega farms because that's not what we voted for,' said Christina Farris, owner of CF2 Cattle Company and Cowgirl Beef. The OKC Food Hub, which works directly with the farmers, schools and food bank also weighed in on the impacts. House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September, though prospects unclear in Senate 'Farmers will not have an investment in their farms to get food to communities and schoolchildren like starting in June, they would have had like, you know, X amount of dollars promised to their farm, now they don't,' said Jenna Moore, OKC Food Hub. Oklahoma is luckier than other areas, the state has a similar program that's not going away. 'We still get to provide food for our kids and to share our knowledge and to reach out into those communities and start those conversations on maybe they want to be a small pork farmer, maybe they want to grow some tomatoes,' said Farris. The state legislature has allocated $3.2 million for the Local Food for School Program, but making up those federal dollars, close to $30 million may be impossible. 'It's just such a blessing to live in a state that supportive of AG, I guess our federal government needs to get it together,' said Farris. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry sent News 4 the following statement. As we learn about changes to federal programs, ODAFF will continue to work with stakeholders and partners at all levels to explore opportunities that benefit both local producers and Oklahoma consumers. Interest in local foods is at an all-time high, and it is a priority for our agency to further market opportunities for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers and access to those options for all Oklahomans. ODAFF The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma also sent a statement. We are deeply disappointed by the recent decision to cancel the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program (LFPA). This funding has enabled us to purchase and distribute fresh, nutritious food to the communities we serve. The loss of this program will significantly impact our ability to meet the increasing demand for food assistance, especially as more families face food insecurity. We urge lawmakers and stakeholders to reconsider this decision and support critical programs that ensure no one goes hungry. Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Officials encourage you to reach out to your elected officials in D.C. about the cuts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump freezes $1 billion in food aid given to local schools and food banks to help low-income families
The Department of Agriculture has slashed over $1 billion in funding aimed at helping schools and food banks purchase from local farmers, according to a nonprofit. 'Multiple states' were recently notified of these cuts, the nonprofit School Nutrition Association said in a statement Tuesday. 'With research showing school meals are the healthiest meals Americans eat, Congress needs to invest in underfunded school meal programs rather than cut services critical to student achievement and health,' said the group's president Shannon Gleave. 'These proposals would cause millions of children to lose access to free school meals at a time when working families are struggling with rising food costs. Meanwhile, short-staffed school nutrition teams, striving to improve menus and expand scratch-cooking, would be saddled with time-consuming and costly paperwork created by new government inefficiencies.' An estimated $660 million in funds through the Local Food for Schools program for 2025 will no longer be available to support childcare institutions and schools, the group added. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education confirmed it received a notice of termination from the USDA on Friday of the second round of Local Food for Schools grant funding, an award of $12.2 million, claiming that they 'determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate,' the state's governor Maura Healy said in a Monday statement. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer 'priorities,' and it's just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts,' said Governor Healey. 'There is nothing 'appropriate' about it. Trump and Musk are continuing to withhold essential funding in violation of court orders, and our children, farmers and small businesses are bearing the brunt of it.' The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which provides food to food banks and organizations that reach underserved communities, was also included in the cuts, Politico reported. A USDA spokesperson told the outlet that funding 'is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification.' The spokesperson added: 'These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.'
Politico
11-03-2025
- Business
- Politico
USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks
The Agriculture Department has axed two programs that gave schools and food banks money to buy food from local farms and ranchers, halting more than $1 billion in federal spending. Roughly $660 million that schools and child care facilities were counting on to purchase food from nearby farms through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program in 2025 has been canceled, according to the School Nutrition Association. State officials were notified Friday of USDA's decision to end the LFS program for this year. More than 40 states had signed agreements to participate in previous years, according to SNA and several state agencies. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which supports food banks and other feeding organizations, has also been cut. USDA notified states that it was unfreezing funds for existing LFPA agreements but did not plan to carry out a second round of funding for fiscal year 2025. In a statement, a USDA spokesperson confirmed that funding, previously announced last October, 'is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification.' The spokesperson added: 'These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.' The Biden administration expanded the spending for both programs to build a more resilient food supply chain that didn't just rely on major food companies. Last year, USDA announced more than $1 billion in additional funding for the programs through the Commodity Credit Corporation, a New Deal-era USDA fund for buying agricultural commodities. The Trump administration's move to halt the programs comes as school nutrition officials are becoming increasingly anxious about affording healthy food with the current federal reimbursement rate for meals. As food costs have risen in the last few years, more people are turning to food banks and other feeding organizations to supplement their increased grocery bills. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, castigated the administration for the decision, noting that her state would lose $12 million it planned to dole out to school districts. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer 'priorities,' and it's just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts,' Healey said in a statement.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks
The Agriculture Department has axed two programs that gave schools and food banks money to buy food from local farms and ranchers, halting more than $1 billion in federal spending. Roughly $660 million that schools and child care facilities were counting on to purchase food from nearby farms through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program in 2025 has been canceled, according to the School Nutrition Association. State officials were notified Friday of USDA's decision to end the LFS program for this year. More than 40 states had signed agreements to participate in previous years, according to SNA and several state agencies. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which supports food banks and other feeding organizations, has also been cut. USDA notified states that it was unfreezing funds for existing LFPA agreements but did not plan to carry out a second round of funding for fiscal year 2025. In a statement, a USDA spokesperson confirmed that funding, previously announced last October, 'is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification.' The spokesperson added: 'These programs, created under the former Administration via Executive authority, no longer effectuate the goals of the agency. LFPA and LFPA Plus agreements that were in place prior to LFPA 25, which still have substantial financial resources remaining, will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.' The Biden administration expanded the spending for both programs to build a more resilient food supply chain that didn't just rely on major food companies. Last year, USDA announced more than $1 billion in additional funding for the programs through the Commodity Credit Corporation, a New Deal-era USDA fund for buying agricultural commodities. The Trump administration's move to halt the programs comes as school nutrition officials are becoming increasingly anxious about affording healthy food with the current federal reimbursement rate for meals. As food costs have risen in the last few years, more people are turning to food banks and other feeding organizations to supplement their increased grocery bills. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, castigated the administration for the decision, noting that her state would lose $12 million it planned to dole out to school districts. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk have declared that feeding children and supporting local farmers are no longer 'priorities,' and it's just the latest terrible cut with real impact on families across Massachusetts,' Healey said in a statement.
