Federal funding cuts have plunged local food systems in Wisconsin—and across the US—into turmoil. This month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is terminating 2025 funding for two pandemic-era initiatives: the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs. These initiatives provided over $1 billion to farmers in 40 states, supplying fresh food to food banks, pantries, and schools. The USDA had previously signed a contract in January committing to fund Wisconsin’s LFPA program for 2025. However, a USDA spokesperson told the decision was part of a broader effort to transition away from temporary pandemic-era programs and focus on “long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.”

The Impact on Wisconsin’s Farmers

Across the nation, farmers say they were blindsided by the funding cuts. In Wisconsin, 300 farmers participated in the LFPA program, funding $4.2 million dollars worth of food going to 254 pantries. Many had already taken out loans and purchased equipment in preparation for the program’s continuation, said Tara Roberts-Turner, general manager of the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative (WFHC), a farmer-led distribution network serving more than 400 farmers and the state’s largest food hub. Without the funding, she warned, small and midsized farmers could lose financial stability, local food infrastructure could unravel and underserved communities could struggle to access fresh food.

The Human Impact

For two years, Wisconsin farmer Tracy Vinz, 50, supplied fresh produce to food banks through the LFPA program. Each week, she delivered vegetables from her midsized farm, Olden Organics, to the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry. One moment, in particular, has stuck with her. At the food pantry, an elderly woman, clutching a bag of cubed butternut squash, grabbed her arm, Vinz recalled. “Thank you,” the woman said. “This makes me feel human.” Vinz said food pantries usually receive unhealthy food, but the squash in the woman’s hand had been harvested just hours earlier. In Wisconsin, more than 600,000 people face food insecurity, including over 200,000 children, according to Feeding America.

The Broader Implications

The funding cuts also have sparked outrage among Wisconsin officials. Four days after the USDA’s announcement, Governor Tony Evers urged the Trump administration to restore funding that Congress had already approved. “Here in America’s Dairyland, we stand up for our farmers, farm families, and producers,” Evers said in a statement. “And we’re going to fight to make damn sure our farmers have the resources and support Wisconsin promised.” On Monday, US Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin urged the USDA to reverse its decision in a letter co-signed by 30 Senate colleagues. “At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products,” Baldwin said, noting that over half of the farmers who participated in the LFPA program were new.

The Future of Local Food Systems

The future of Wisconsin’s local food systems remains uncertain. The USDA’s decision has put many farmers in a precarious position, forcing them to search for new markets. Without the funding, some smaller farmers may be unable to continue. The cuts also threaten to unravel the progress made in developing local food infrastructure. As the state grapples with the fallout, the need for a stable and resilient local food system has never been more critical.