Across Alabama, programs are helping kids learn more about farming and nutrition with the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA is offering $700 million in new funding for the Local Foods for Schools and Local Foods for Child Care programs, across the state and beyond.

Jenny Lester Moffitt, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the USDA, said the programs not only ensure some students receive nutritious meals but create direct market opportunities for local farmers.

"Farmers that are farming in the region, for them to be able to sell direct to schools, it not just provides healthy food for the kids, but it also provides much-needed markets for producers as well," Lester Moffitt explained.

She pointed out there is a financial advantage for farmers who participate. Direct sales provide farmers with more revenue and keep those food dollars within local communities. In contrast, when they sell their products to major retail supply chains, they typically receive only about 14 cents for every $2.

Lester Moffitt said National Farm to School Month is about more than just learning. It is helping some students put practical skills to work through gardening programs. In Alabama, groups receiving grants are working with students to create gardens and gain practical business skills.

"Farm to School is also about nutrition education. It's about agriculture education, it's about school gardens as well," Lester Moffitt outlined. "There is, of course, the important part about getting local foods into cafeterias - but also it's about educating students about healthy eating, what's grown in their region, how food is grown."

This year, Alabama received about $100,000 from the Patrick Leahy Farm to School program.


get more stories like this via email

Farmers in Nebraska and across the nation might not be in panic mode anymore thanks to another extension of the Farm Bill but they still want Congress to look past political divisions to ensure producers are getting the right support for the long haul.

As part of their budget deal to avoid a government shutdown, federal lawmakers also decided to keep the current Farm Bill, which technically expired in 2023, in place for another year. It is usually updated every five years.

John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said it is a tough market right now and they were happy to see economic and disaster aid included. But he pointed out farming communities still feel overlooked.

"Those of us who represent agriculture see a deepening financial crisis that a lot of farm families are facing," Hansen explained. "We look to Congress for relief."

He noted farmers are still largely working under 2018 spending levels even as their operational costs go higher. The National Farmers Union said it is especially unhappy about a key provision kept off the table, which was granting nationwide year-round sales of E-15 blends of ethanol. It said it would open more markets for farmers but it faces a broad range of opponents, including the oil industry.

Hansen and other advocates hope a new Congress does not fall into the same trap it did last year, urging them to develop a permanent plan.

"As we look into the next year, we hope that the Farm Bill does not languish for another September 30th deadline," Hansen stressed.

It's uncertain how newly shaped agriculture committees, as well as the budget-cutting goals of a new Trump administration, will influence debate over certain elements of Farm Bill funding, including food assistance programs and conservation aid.


get more stories like this via email

Communities around the state will be watching the progress of a unique project coming up for the north-central Indiana town of Logansport.

The Cass County Community Foundation-backed dream for the new community space includes a permanent farmers market, an incubator kitchen for small food businesses and making community garden plots available to local residents.

Deanna Crispen, president and CEO of the foundation, emphasized the initiative's focus on uniting the diverse community.

"The whole idea behind this proposal was bringing people together through food," Crispen explained.

Planners chose Heritage Park for the project and intentionally designed it to honor the town's immigrant history. They are working with minority groups to ensure inclusivity. The Lilly Endowment has awarded a $5 million grant to fund the project.

Crispen pointed out Purdue University's Extension program will teach agricultural techniques to new residents. The garden plots will allow families to grow traditional foods alongside local staples.

"The space where we're going to build is where the immigration statue is," Crispen noted. "This was meant to be a gathering place."

Organizers expect construction to begin next spring. Local organizations and city officials are coordinating logistics, such as relocating the farmers market during construction. Crispen described the project as a future centerpiece for the community, bringing pride and economic opportunities for years to come.


get more stories like this via email

From declining commodity prices to unpredictable weather, American farmers are at a crossroads - especially smaller operations.

And they're wondering what things will be like after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

As it did in Trump's first term, the incoming administration is poised to revive trade disputes by implementing tariffs.

Analysts say the first go-round had a negative effect on farmers, with agricultural exports suffering $27 billion in losses.

Emergency aid was approved, but observers say larger agri-businesses were prioritized too much.

Ben Lilliston - the director of rural strategies and climate change at the Minnesota-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy - said he wonders if similar patterns will emerge.

"That definitely is a concern because we've seen consolidation in farmland," said Lilliston. "We're losing farmers - particularly losing small, mid-sized farmers - and this would be just another advantage for the largest operators."

Those larger sites, namely concentrated animal feeding operations or CAFOs, are growing in number, creating environmental impacts.

That's on top of talk from Trump and his aides about mass deportations of undocumented individuals, potentially disrupting the farm labor force.

However, Lilliston said Trump has raised legitimate questions about the need for trade reforms.

The Biden administration has been aggressive in addressing market fairness for farmers and improving their climate outlook, but also has been criticized for certain moves.

One is funding bio-digesters, which opponents say helps expand CAFOs.

Lilliston said they're unsure what Trump will do on that front, but conservation funding through the Inflation Reduction Act could take a hit.

"It's given a huge boost and made more money available, close to $20 billion," said Lilliston. "So, the question is, as the Trump administration comes in, how are they going to use that Inflation Reduction Act money?"

He pointed to rumblings that the incoming administration wants to roll back unspent IRA funds. But it could be a thorny issue with Republican lawmakers who tout these investments for their districts.

Those conservation dollars are viewed as ways for smaller farms to make their land more resilient and competitive in the face of climate change.

Lilliston said there are other uncertainties, such as the person chosen for Ag Secretary. She has little policy background, leaving farmers guessing.




get more stories like this via email