Latest news with #ResilientFoodSystemsInfrastructure
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - A new Dust Bowl? Without conservation programs, it could happen soon.
Ninety years ago this month, in the depths of the Great Depression, Congress created a new agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to safeguard rural prosperity for future generations: The Soil Conservation Service. For families like mine, this anniversary marks a turning point when our country learned a hard but important lesson. My family lost our farm in the Dust Bowl: a brutal decade in which the combination of poor land management and drought robbed much of the Great Plains of its topsoil. For nine decades now, rural Americans have counted on conservation programs from the Department of Agriculture to help them boost soil health and ensure their lands are productive for generations to come. But now, in a moment when many rural Americans are again facing severe economic uncertainty, these programs are threatened. As a child, I listened to my grandmother's stories about stuffing towels into the door frame of her family's Western Nebraska farmhouse during the Dust Bowl in a futile attempt to keep the blowing soil from coming inside. She told me about how, once her parents lost the farm, she had to hire herself out to another family as a domestic helper to earn money for school shoes. The 1930s presented a similar set of challenges to the ones rural Americans face today. Shifts in the larger economy made farmers' lives and livelihoods increasingly precarious. No matter how hard they worked, many could not provide a basic standard of living for their families. On top of the economic hardships and inequality that impacted all Americans during the Great Depression, rural Americans had to grapple with the degradation of farmland, which posed existential challenges to their ability to earn a living. But the federal government did not back down from this challenge, and it didn't give up on American farmers. By creating the Soil Conservation Service and a new suite of conservation programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal government provided our nation's farmers with the resources and expert guidance they needed to restore degraded lands and steward the resources on which their livelihoods depended. These programs came too late for my family's farm, but I know many other families who credit federal conservation programs with saving theirs. When I took an interest in learning about sustainable agriculture and farming methods that help build and maintain healthy soils, my grandmother encouraged me to do everything I could to help other families avoid the devastating losses she experienced as a young girl. This is the sense of purpose that's carried me through 15 years of research with brilliant farmers who are giving back to their lands even as they raise healthy food for their communities. Today, not only has the current administration clawed back agricultural conservation funding already committed in 2022, impacting 135 grantees across the country, they've also paused payments for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program (which builds resilience in the food supply chain to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses) and terminated the leases for 111 Agriculture Department offices around the country. Amid legally dubious firings of probationary staff and threats of mass layoffs, some 16 percent of the department's workforce recently accepted buyouts, gutting the agency. Here's the thing I wish more folks understood: Farmers actually have two jobs, but they only get paid (sometimes) for one. Farms are private businesses, and they get paid, though often not very well, for the products they produce. But then farmers also steward public resources that we all rely on, such as clean water and healthy soil. These are the folks that we need to be making sure carbon and nitrogen are in their proper balance, rather than polluting our drinking water and our atmosphere. It is incredibly shortsighted to pull the rug out from under these small businesses, just when we most need their help to avert the worst consequences of climate change and build at least some modicum of resilience for the extreme weather and supply chain disruptions to come. We all eat, and we all have an interest in clean water and a stable climate. As Congress works to reauthorize a new Farm Bill, we must remember the lessons of the Dust Bowl and insist on robust funding for the Department of Agriculture's conservation programs. Liz Carlisle is an associate professor of Environmental Studies at UC Santa Barbara and a Public Voices Fellow of the OpEd Project. She is the author of three books about regenerative and organic agriculture: 'Lentil Underground,' 'Grain by Grain' (with Bob Quinn), and 'Healing Grounds.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
A new Dust Bowl? Without conservation programs, it could happen soon.
Ninety years ago this month, in the depths of the Great Depression, Congress created a new agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to safeguard rural prosperity for future generations: The Soil Conservation Service. For families like mine, this anniversary marks a turning point when our country learned a hard but important lesson. My family lost our farm in the Dust Bowl: a brutal decade in which the combination of poor land management and drought robbed much of the Great Plains of its topsoil. For nine decades now, rural Americans have counted on conservation programs from the Department of Agriculture to help them boost soil health and ensure their lands are productive for generations to come. But now, in a moment when many rural Americans are again facing severe economic uncertainty, these programs are threatened. As a child, I listened to my grandmother's stories about stuffing towels into the door frame of her family's Western Nebraska farmhouse during the Dust Bowl in a futile attempt to keep the blowing soil from coming inside. She told me about how, once her parents lost the farm, she had to hire herself out to another family as a domestic helper to earn money for school shoes. The 1930s presented a similar set of challenges to the ones rural Americans face today. Shifts in the larger economy made farmers' lives and livelihoods increasingly precarious. No matter how hard they worked, many could not provide a basic standard of living for their families. On top of the economic hardships and inequality that impacted all Americans during the Great Depression, rural Americans had to grapple with the degradation of farmland, which posed existential challenges to their ability to earn a living. But the federal government did not back down from this challenge, and it didn't give up on American farmers. By creating the Soil Conservation Service and a new suite of conservation programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal government provided our nation's farmers with the resources and expert guidance they needed to restore degraded lands and steward the resources on which their livelihoods depended. These programs came too late for my family's farm, but I know many other families who credit federal conservation programs with saving theirs. When I took an interest in learning about sustainable agriculture and farming methods that help build and maintain healthy soils, my grandmother encouraged me to do everything I could to help other families avoid the devastating losses she experienced as a young girl. This is the sense of purpose that's carried me through 15 years of research with brilliant farmers who are giving back to their lands even as they raise healthy food for their communities. Today, not only has the current administration clawed back agricultural conservation funding already committed in 2022, impacting 135 grantees across the country, they've also paused payments for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program (which builds resilience in the food supply chain to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses) and terminated the leases for 111 Agriculture Department offices around the country. Amid legally dubious firings of probationary staff and threats of mass layoffs, some 16 percent of the department's workforce recently accepted buyouts, gutting the agency. Here's the thing I wish more folks understood: Farmers actually have two jobs, but they only get paid (sometimes) for one. Farms are private businesses, and they get paid, though often not very well, for the products they produce. But then farmers also steward public resources that we all rely on, such as clean water and healthy soil. These are the folks that we need to be making sure carbon and nitrogen are in their proper balance, rather than polluting our drinking water and our atmosphere. It is incredibly shortsighted to pull the rug out from under these small businesses, just when we most need their help to avert the worst consequences of climate change and build at least some modicum of resilience for the extreme weather and supply chain disruptions to come. We all eat, and we all have an interest in clean water and a stable climate. As Congress works to reauthorize a new Farm Bill, we must remember the lessons of the Dust Bowl and insist on robust funding for the Department of Agriculture's conservation programs. Liz Carlisle is an associate professor of Environmental Studies at UC Santa Barbara and a Public Voices Fellow of the OpEd Project. She is the author of three books about regenerative and organic agriculture: 'Lentil Underground,' 'Grain by Grain' (with Bob Quinn), and 'Healing Grounds.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How dependent is Illinois on federal funds?
(WTVO) — As the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) work to shrink the size of federal spending, Illinois residents may wonder: how dependent is the state on federal funds? WalletHub conducted that found that overall, Illinois ranked 43rd out of 50 states, with residents' dependency ranked 48th and state government ranked 32nd. The study found Alaska as the most federally dependent state, with 50% of the state's revenue coming from federal funding, and New Jersey the least dependent. Gov. JB Pritzker's office, there are around 81,300 federal employees in Illinois, with a federal civilian workforce of 44,784, as of March 2024. DOGE has warned federal agencies to prepare for large-scale layoffs and prioritize offices for closure with functions that are not required by statute or law. The agency expects to save more than $2.4 million a year by in Illinois, in Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Rock Island, Champaign, Springfield, Rockford, and O'Fallon. An executive order cut funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) resulted in the Illinois Department of Agriculture announcing it would shutter the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure programs. The Biden-era programs were created to support local farmers and feed families during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the funding continued after the pandemic ended. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
14-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Matteson farm hit by bird flu loses $220,000 grant amid federal funding freeze
Weeks after a family farm in Matteson lost its entire flock of nearly 3,000 chickens to bird flu, the owners learned their federal funding to remodel a pole barn is in limbo. Kakadoodle farm owners MariKate and Marty Thomas were informed in October they would receive a $220,000 grant, which they planned to use to remodel their pole barn into a distribution center where they aggregate products from other farms and package them for delivery to homes, Marty Thomas said. The grant, part of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, was just awaiting approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas said. 'We were really hoping, after the bird flu happened and we lost all that revenue, we were like, 'OK, but at least we're going to have this revenue coming in, and then that's not going to happen either,'' Thomas said. The couple spent $80,000 to pour concrete and set up temperature control for the barn, banking on reimbursement from the federal grant, Thomas said. 'We've done the very bare minimum that we needed to do with that barn, and it's fine where it's at. It's operational, it's just like halfway completed,' Thomas said. The couple learned the grant was in limbo after the USDA ceased reimbursements for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program after President Donald Trump's administration cut funding for the programs, the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced in a news release in early March. 'I'm hopeful that these freezes are going to be lifted,' Thomas said. 'These are good programs. Trump has supported programs like this in his last administration. I know this one's like different, but I don't know, I have no choice but to be hopeful about it.' Without the federal funds, Thomas said the couple won't be able to complete renovations. 'We just got a blanket statement, like we just learned with everybody else, that the RFSI and the LFPA were both suspended,' Thomas said. The state Department of Agriculture was in the process of selecting grantees for the RFSI program, which would have provided $6.4 million in grant funding to entities, according to the release. Gov. JB Pritzker called cuts to the programs a 'slap in the face' to Illinois farmers. 'The Trump Administration's refusal to release grant funds doesn't just hurt farmers in the program, it devastates our most vulnerable, food-insecure communities relying on meat, fresh produce and other nutritious donations,' the governor said in the release. This week, the state's Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II addressed the House Agriculture & Conservation Committee in Springfield to discuss the impact of federal funding cuts and tariffs on Illinois farmers, according to a news release. 'These are federal funds that were passed by Congress, a coequal branch of government, signed into law, and promised to Illinois farmers,' Costello said. 'They have been cut with no explanation or timeline, and farmers are left to deal with the consequences.' The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program was established to strengthen the middle of the food supply chain by expanding the capacity for locally and regionally produced foods, providing better market opportunities and new revenue streams for small and mid-sized agricultural producers, the state agriculture department said. The program requires farmers to make upfront investments in input costs, with the promise of grant dollars to reimburse them, the state agriculture department said. However, without federal funding the program is unable to operate, they said. While the couple is disappointed, Thomas said he believes their business can survive without government assistance. 'There's a silver lining to this freeze for us, because now we're laser focused as a business on exactly where we need to be, and that's getting food directly to consumers,' he said. '2025 is going to be really hard. We're going to need to raise or borrow a significant amount of money to get through 2025 if the funding freezes continue. However, I'm like, more confident than ever in Kakadoodle.' Though losing their flock of 3,000 hens to bird flu was a significant hit for the farm, which produced close to 24,000 eggs each week, Thomas said the couple is choosing to remain optimistic and has received an outpouring of support from the community and a GoFundMe, which raised more than $50,000 as of Friday. Although the farm is under a 150-day quarantine, preventing them from growing produce or raising new hens until June, Thomas said they continue to operate their online marketplace. Without access to federal funds, the farmers will have the opportunity to refine their business model and focus on generating profit independently, Thomas said. Come 2026, he believes Kakadoodle will be able to operate without any government aid. 'I'm really excited about that,' he said. 'We've always been mindful of taking government assistance, although grateful of it. There's this balance, but I was always careful not to build our business around government funds for programs.' The farmers started Kakadoodle in 2020 as an online marketplace to deliver local food to people's home, inspired by Marty's defeat of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. MariKate Thomas previously told the Southtown that non-Hodgkin lymphoma is linked to glyphosate exposure, a common chemical in conventional farming. The Cleveland Clinic says some studies suggest agricultural workers exposed to high pesticide levels may face a slightly higher risk of the cancer, though the risk from low-level or occasional exposure remains uncertain. Their farm raises chemical-free and antibiotic-free chickens, and their hens spend time in pastures, according to Kakadoodle's website. Despite the hardships, Thomas said he is grateful for the community's support, which has proven how much people care about their farm and products. 'Going through this bird flu and this funding freeze and everything, like the support from our community and customers has been unreal, like bringing us to tears,' he said. 'It's more than a food delivery service for them, they are so passionate about Kakadoodle.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's USDA cuts hurt Illinois farmers and food-insecure communities
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois farmers are letting lawmakers in Springfield know how President Trump's cuts to the USDA are affecting their ability to distribute food to those in need. 'Farmers face so many challenges as it is, and now they must contend with the uncertainty of whether or not these contracts with the government will be honored,' said National Young Farmer's Coalition's Anna Morrell. 'We need certainty and we need certainty so we can continue feeding our communities.' Trump's executive order to cut funding resulted in the Illinois Department of Agriculture announcing it will no longer be able to operate the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) on March 4th. The House Agriculture Committee also heard from multiple farmers about how tariffs on agricultural products are causing the farm bill's approval to be delayed. Governor Pritzker said the cuts hurt every resident of Illinois. 'Cutting funds for these programs is a slap in the face to Illinois farmers and the communities they feed,' said Pritzker. 'The Trump Administration's refusal to release grant fundsdoesn't just hurt farmers in the program, it devastates our most vulnerable, food-insecurecommunities relying on meat, fresh produce and other nutritious donations.' The USDA ceased reimbursements for LFPA and RFSI without explanation on January 19th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
