Washington, D.C., September 13, 2025
News Summary
The USDA has revealed an allocation of $18 million for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program in 2026, the largest investment since its start. The funding will benefit fewer, larger projects with a minimum grant of $100,000, although concerns arise about the impact on smaller initiatives. Advocates worry that changes could hinder local food sourcing in schools and disadvantage smaller applicants previously reliant on smaller grants. While the funding aims to enhance access to local foods, there are significant challenges and uncertainties ahead for stakeholders in the farm-to-school sector.
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the availability of $18 million for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program for the year 2026, marking the largest single-year investment in this initiative since its inception. The announcement was made by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins amidst ongoing concerns regarding the recent cuts in funding that had previously hampered schools’ ability to source local foods effectively.
The new funding allocation introduces significant changes aimed at streamlining the grant application process. While schools and organizations may benefit from larger grants, they will now face a more competitive landscape as the USDA has adjusted its parameters to favor fewer, more substantial projects. These changes also include a new minimum grant award of $100,000, consolidating seven existing grant categories into one, and eliminating a scoring system that previously prioritized equitable fund distribution to underserved communities.
Despite the positive aspects of increased funding, experts have expressed skepticism about whether this new allocation can sufficiently offset the financial impact resulting from the $10 million cancellation of previously promised funds in March 2025. Schools and organizations were affected because they had already submitted applications for that funding, leaving them in a challenging situation as they now strive to meet their local food sourcing goals.
The Farm to School Grant Program has been operational for over a decade, originally funded through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signed by former President Barack Obama. Since its inception in 2013, the USDA has awarded approximately $100 million across more than 1,200 projects. Initially, the annual funding was set at $5 million, which has historically been complemented by additional appropriations from Congress.
Rollins highlighted that the grants would have a significant impact on small family farms by increasing access to healthy foods in schools and inspiring the next generation of farmers. However, these revised application requirements are a cause for concern among stakeholders, particularly for smaller entities that typically benefited from smaller grants under $50,000, often aimed at initiatives like installing school gardens.
Organizations like the National Farm to School Network have pointed out the dual nature of the recent changes, recognizing potential benefits while also identifying drawbacks that could disadvantage smaller applicants. The emphasis remains that while the continuation of funding is a step forward, it does not replace the losses incurred from cuts to essential programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Local Food for Schools program.
There is a growing apprehension that the USDA’s changes could undermine years of progress made in improving school nutrition efforts. Stakeholders have been vocal about the need for the USDA to engage more closely with farmers and school food service directors to understand their needs when making decisions that affect vital programs in the farm-to-school sector. However, the USDA did not respond to inquiries concerning the strategic implications of these funding changes and their commitment to local food sourcing initiatives.
Conclusion
As the USDA prepares for the rollout of funding in 2026, the landscape for farm-to-school initiatives faces uncertainty. While the introduction of $18 million in grants is a notable step forward, questions remain about the ramifications of recent changes on smaller projects and local food sourcing for schools across the nation.
FAQ Section
What is the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program?
The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program is a USDA initiative aimed at increasing access to fresh, local foods in schools through funding for various projects that connect schools with local farms.
What are the new changes to the grant program in 2026?
For 2026, the grant program will have fewer, but larger projects with a minimum grant award of $100,000. Additionally, the program will consolidate its categories from seven to one and will no longer use a scoring system favoring underserved communities.
How much funding has the USDA allocated to the program to date?
Since the program’s inception in 2013, the USDA has awarded approximately $100 million to over 1,200 projects aimed at enhancing access to fresh, local food in schools.
What challenges do smaller projects face due to the new grant criteria?
Smaller projects may struggle under the new criteria that require partnerships and a minimum grant award, as many previously successful projects received grants of under $50,000 for initiatives like school gardens.
Key Features of the Announcement
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Funding Amount | $18 million for 2026 |
| Number of Projects | Fewer, larger projects |
| Minimum Grant Award | $100,000 |
| Total Funding Since 2013 | $100 million awarded |
| Initial Annual Funding | $5 million |
| Number of Projects Funded | Over 1,200 projects |
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Additional Resources
- Civil Eats: USDA’s Regional Food Business Centers Caught in Federal Funding Freeze
- Wikipedia: Food Security
- Farm Progress: US Risks Food Security by Cutting Agricultural Research Funding, Expert Warns
- Google Search: Agricultural Research Funding
- Brownfield Ag News: Potential Return of RFSI Funding
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Mother Jones: Trump SNAP Cuts Big Beautiful Bill for Food Aid
- Google News: Food Aids
- New York Times: Farmers, Food Bank Budget Cuts
- Google Scholar: Food Bank Funding Cuts
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