CENTRAL CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Some Iowa farmers say they’re feeling betrayed after the USDA has chosen to not renew $11 million worth of deals.
These contracts all started three years ago as a response to the pandemic. In an effort to bolster local farming infrastructure, the USDA signed federally funded contracts with farmers to get local food to places like food pantries and schools.
Because of federal budget cuts those deals have now been cancelled even after those farmers were told in 2024 to prepare more to renew expanded versions of the three year contracts.
“It should not come as a surprise that a program announced in October 2024 by executive action, rather than legislatively directed, won’t be continued past its original end date,” Don McDowell with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said.
The Buffalo Ridge Orchard in Central City is one of the farms that prepared for another three years of collaboration. In preparation to send more apples off through these programs, the group made plans to grow up to 40,000 pounds of apples.
“This program enabled us to gain some efficiencies and then able to move more product,” Emma Johnson, co-owner of the Buffalo Ridge Orchard, said. ”I will find a way to move the products if we can’t move it through this purchasing program, but it’s going to be a lot less efficient and we’re going to lose money.”
The Iowa Food System Coalition calls the decision not to renew these contracts a betrayal as many farmers already have their plans set in preparation.
“This couldn’t come at a worse possible time and just really jeopardizes the livelihood of all these table food farmers,” Chris Schwartz, executive director of the Iowa Food System Coalition, said. “They’re getting it all stolen away and they’re going to be left with the bill.”
Schwartz and Johnson both say this decision is especially disappointing as both the programs were successful and helped support local farms.
“This initial investment was really a game changer for building up a resilient local food system here in the state of Iowa and states all across the country,” Schwartz said.
The farmers always expected the program to end, but not this soon, especially without a proper heads-up.
“We’re all on our heels because the program’s been cancelled in the middle of it, essentially,” Johnson said.
“This is the kind of stuff that people lose their farm over, this is the kind of stuff that people lose their homes over to have this just yanked out of them at the last minute,” Schwartz said.
The ending programs are the Local Food for Schools, Local Food Purchasing Assistance and Local Food for Child Care programs. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced a new initiative called Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Program for Schools which gives some schools up to $1,000 to buy locally.
As these groups are working on their next steps the Iowa Food System Coalition is asking people to go the extra mile to support Iowa farmers by buying local.
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