News Summary
The USDA has announced an unprecedented $18 million funding for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, the largest investment in its history. This initiative aims to enhance access to fresh, local food in schools nationwide. Despite the positive development, concerns have arisen regarding a new application process that will favor larger projects, potentially sidelining smaller and vital initiatives. Advocates stress the need for a balanced approach to ensure all schools can benefit from improved access to healthy food.
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the allocation of $18 million for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program for the year 2026. This funding marks the largest single-year investment in the initiative since its inception, aimed at enhancing access to fresh, local food in schools across the country.
The announcement by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins comes in the wake of considerable criticism regarding recent funding cuts to agricultural and school nutrition programs. Among these was the cancellation of $10 million previously earmarked for the same farm-to-school program in March 2025, funding for which many schools and organizations had already applied.
The new funding structure aims to streamline the application process but will result in fewer grants being awarded, focusing on larger projects. This change raises concerns among experts regarding the potential impact on smaller initiatives and entities which traditionally require less funding to operate.
Since the program’s establishment in 2013, the USDA has awarded a total of $100 million to over 1,200 projects, enhancing the availability of local food in educational institutions. The program has traditionally been funded through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was signed into law by former President Barack Obama. Initial annual funding for the program began at $5 million, with additional appropriations typically provided by Congress in subsequent years.
In Rollins’ announcement, he emphasized that the grants are designed to benefit small family farms, provide increased access to healthy foods in schools, and inspire the development of future agricultural leaders. However, the revised grant application process has raised alarms among stakeholders. The new requirements necessitate partnerships and mandate a minimum grant award of $100,000, which could disadvantage smaller projects that previously received funding under $50,000 for initiatives such as installing school gardens.
The USDA’s adjustments have also consolidated seven grant categories into one and eliminated a scoring system that favored equitable distribution of funds, particularly to underserved communities. As a result, experts are divided on the implications of these changes. Advocates for farm-to-school policies, such as those from the National Farm to School Network, recognize both potential benefits and drawbacks, especially for smaller applicants who rely on minimal grant funding.
Moreover, stakeholders express concern that while the continuation of funding is a positive development, it does not adequately compensate for reductions impacting other significant programs, such as SNAP-Ed and the Local Food for Schools program. Observers highlight the risk that these funding changes could reverse efforts made in advancing school nutrition and local food sourcing within educational systems.
The USDA has faced scrutiny regarding its strategic direction and responsiveness to the needs of farmers and school food service directors. Despite the critical nature of these shifts in funding, the USDA did not provide clarity or response to inquiries about the impact of these amendments on local food sourcing initiatives.
As the 2026 funding cycle approaches, the expectations for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program will remain under close watch by all stakeholders involved, with hopes that the USDA will heed the voices advocating for a balanced approach that supports both larger projects and smaller initiatives essential for fostering healthy eating habits among students.
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- Civil Eats: USDA’s Regional Food Business Centers Caught in Federal Funding Freeze
- Wikipedia: Food Security
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- Google Search: Agricultural Research Funding
- Brownfield Ag News: Potential Return of RFSI Funding
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
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- New York Times: Farmers, Food Bank Budget Cuts
- Google Scholar: Food Bank Funding Cuts
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