How USDA Funding Cuts Are Hurting Schools, Food Banks, and Our Farmers: The Unseen Consequences

Maryland’s school districts are significant customers for Emma Jogoz’s Moon Valley farm. Over the past year, she collaborated with small farms statewide, expecting to earn about $750,000 from contracts with 12 districts, including those in Baltimore and Garrett County. This support came through a federal program that encourages schools to buy local.

Jogoz’s planning was meticulous. “Farmers have to think far ahead,” she noted. Unfortunately, her productivity could be in jeopardy; nearly 400,000 pounds of fresh food she grew might end up wasted due to program changes.

At the end of April, the federal funding that supported these large orders will cease. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement program, along with the Local Food Purchase Assistance program for food banks, has been canceled as part of a shift to reduce government spending. This decision has left many small farms in Maryland concerned about losing valuable customers.

Recently, 31 Democratic senators urged the USDA to reconsider. They highlighted concerns about rising food insecurity and the impact on local farmers. The programs, created during the pandemic, helped small farmers secure consistent buyers, allowing them to thrive against larger global distributors.

State officials were surprised by the USDA’s abrupt decision. According to Sarah Black, a USDA spokeswoman, the programs were temporary measures without a long-term strategy. She stated that the freed-up funds would be better used for well-established programs that address the current agricultural market’s challenges.

This decision disregards the nearly $1 billion in funds originally allocated for food banks and school districts nationwide, including an estimated $8 million for Maryland schools and over $4 million for food banks in the state. Meg Kimmel, COO of the Maryland Food Bank, remarked that the Local Food Purchase Assistance program was essential for keeping their operations strong, allowing them to purchase local food at competitive prices. Without it, they fear they will have to buy less fresh produce and meat.

In Maryland, not all school districts rely heavily on the Local Food for Schools program for lunches. Some districts, like Anne Arundel and Baltimore County, don’t expect a significant impact. However, others feel disappointed, especially those that used the program to strengthen connections with local farms.

The situation is causing a ripple effect among smaller farmers. Jacob Lovett from Lovett Farm, which relies on the Maryland Food Bank for a significant portion of its sales, voiced his concerns about the future without this program. He mentioned that over half of his farm’s income comes from supplying potatoes to the food bank.

As the food supply chain faces challenges, local farmers are getting anxious. They worry about losing buyers and, consequently, income. For them, this shift feels like a setback in efforts to grow sustainable local agriculture and support community nutrition.

Overall, the cancellation of these programs could have significant implications for Maryland’s farmers and the food security of its communities. The focus on supporting local agriculture and nourishing schools has never felt more crucial. For now, many farmers and school districts are left to wonder what comes next.



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