The U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended a program that partners local food banks with local farmers, used by farmers and food banks across southwest Ohio.
The USDA this month notified states that it did not plan to carry out a second round of funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance program for fiscal year 2025, but funds for existing contracts nationwide aren't frozen. This move followed the Trump administration approving steep budget cuts at the USDA.
Michael Goldstick, of Guided By Mushrooms in New Lebanon, said local farmers have a little bit of time to plan around this change, as existing contracts will be funded through June.
"We invested, planned and grew for this program," he said. "We appreciate the runway to work toward alternatives, a Plan B, but we're disappointed that small farmers, hungry families and food banks will be impacted by this. And this is nationwide."
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