Latest news with #LFSCC
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
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas schools, food banks face $10.5m in funding cuts
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas school nutrition programs and food banks are facing significant setbacks after $10.5 million in funding was cut off by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) is expecting to receive more than $7.9 million for the state school nutrition program and the Child and Adult Care Program through the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFSCC). Those programs were expected to receive: School Nutrition Program: $5,773,573 Child and Adult Care Food Program: $2,209,057 KSDE spokeswoman Denise Kahler said that at the time of the agreement's termination, Kansas had not received any LFSCC funds or nor any funds to child nutrition program operators. City of Topeka nets $500 from Land Bank in 2024 'These funds represented 100% allocation for Kansas products,' Kahler said. 'There would not have been any overhead, administrative costs, or any miscellaneous costs. These are true dollars that would have benefitted Kansas producers and provided access to high quality meals to Kansas children.' Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) Director of Communications Heather Lansdowne said the KDA was expecting around $2.6 million from the LFSCC allocation. She said the program distributed Kansas-grown and processed foods to underserved communities, families and individuals across the state over the past two years. Lansdowne said that after news of the cancellation, there will be no additional purchases under the program in Kansas. She said funding for the program was announced by the USDA in December 2024 and that cooperative agreements were signed in January 2025. 'Kansas food banks used these funds to purchase fresh, local foods directly from farmers and producers in their areas,' Lansdowne said. Lansdowne said the KDA partnered with Harvesters, the Kansas Food Bank and the Second Harvest Community Food Bank. Purchases made by food banks were made at their own discretion until their allocated funds were spent. The products were required to be produced locally in Kansas to be eligible for sale under the program, according to the KDA website. K-State freezes global food security labs after federal order 27 News reached out to Topeka Public Schools spokesman Dr. Aarion Gray who said the USDA funding cuts won't affect the free breakfast and lunch programs at Topeka Public Schools. About $660 million has gone to schools and childcare centers since the pandemic-era programs were introduced, according to The Associated Press. The USDA told the AP the programs were a legacy of the pandemic and are no longer priorities for the agency. For more weather, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How recent USDA cuts will affect West Virginia farmers
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — West Virginia farmers are bracing for impact after the USDA announced more than a billion dollars' worth of cuts this week, which eliminated funding to two programs. One of which would have given nearly $4,000,000 to schools to buy locally grown and raised food. The two programs in question are the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement Program (LFSCC), which provides funds for schools and child care centers to buy locally grown food, as well as the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which provides similar funds to places like food banks. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) told 12 News in a statement that it was poised to receive $3,770,060 this year for the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative program. That would have been divided between the school food budget, which would have received $2,727,150 and the child care budget, which would have received $1,060,910. The statement read in part: These funds represented 100% allocation for West Virginia products. There would not have been any overhead, administrative costs, or any miscellaneous costs. These are true dollars that would have benefitted West Virginia farmers. This money was in addition to the standard meal reimbursements that schools receive. The Commodity Credit Corporation had been tapped many times since the pandemic to provide extra funds for school meals as they grappled with supply chain challenges and high prices– which of course continue now and are expected to increase. West Virginians may have been exposed to measles, health officials say The WVDE was sent a termination notice letter by the USDA dated March 7, 2025, with the reason for termination being that 'AMS (Agricultural Marketing Service) has determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate.' The letter also said that 'Local Food for Schools (LFS) agreements that were in place prior to LFSCC will continue to be in effect for the remainder of the period of performance.' 'Where you're seeing a lot of the frustration is this is really damaging because farmers have already invested their time and money into creating these products that now don't have a market so it could be potentially devastating to a small business,' WVU Extension Public Health Specialist and Director of SNAP-ED WV Kristin McCartney said. It's still unknown how big of an effect this will have on local farmers who have relied on these partnerships, like ones with food banks, for years. LFSCC-Termination-Notice-West-Virginia-Department-of-EducationDownload 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.
