The Trump administration has stopped reimbursing Illinois for a program designed to assist farmers and provide contemporary meals to Illinois meals banks.
The Illinois Division of Agriculture introduced Tuesday that adjustments to federal funding imply Illinois is lacking reimbursements for prices for the Native Meals Buy Help Program, or LFPA, and might now not run the Resilient Meals Techniques Infrastructure Program, or RFSI.
The state company mentioned the federal U.S. Division of Agriculture has advised states it is not going to reimburse them for any prices for the applications relationship again to when Trump took workplace on Jan. 20.
LFPA, which funds the Illinois-EATS program, makes use of federal funding to purchase contemporary merchandise from farmers at a good market worth, then distributes the meals to communities by way of meals pantries and different related applications designed to assist folks in want for no further value. All of the meals produced as a part of Illinois’ program comes from socially deprived farmers, together with these the federal authorities defines as “new farmers.”
Greater than 170 farmers have equipped meals to 883 places in Illinois via Illinois-EATS.
Brenda Stewart, a farm proprietor in Pembroke Township in Kankakee County, acquired grant funding via the state. She advised Capitol Information Illinois she is most apprehensive in regards to the individuals who depend upon her farm and the grant program to eat wholesome.
“We’re nonetheless going to develop our meals, we’re nonetheless going to supply what we will to our group, however not on the size in the event that they have been in a position to obtain,” Stewart mentioned.
Pembroke Township has no grocery retailer and plenty of residents are on meals stamps, Stewart mentioned. She mentioned IL-EATS and her farm present most of the residents one in every of their solely avenues for contemporary and wholesome meals.
The USDA authorized $43 million for Illinois to hold out this system for a number of years, however the state continues to be lacking $17.8 million, in response to the Illinois Division of Agriculture. The state and USDA announced a partnership for this system in 2022.
The state has additionally not acquired $6.5 million for the RFSI grant program. This system is designed to enhance capability for meals processors and distributors and enhance entry to raised distribution markets. The state has established a grant program primarily based on funding from the federal authorities and was within the course of of choosing winners.
There was no rationalization for why reimbursements submitted after Jan. 19 have been stopped, in response to the state, and reimbursement claims have been returned.
USDA didn’t return a request for remark Tuesday afternoon.
“That program made the distinction, and I’d say to Elon Musk and President Trump, that is saving lives. That is educating our infants eat contemporary greens and the way it helps their medical circumstances,” Stewart mentioned.
Information that the 2 applications are on an indefinite maintain comes per week after Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois’ Democratic members of Congress despatched a letter to the White Home Workplace of Administration and Finances asking why the Trump administration was withholding $1.9 billion from Illinois state businesses, nonprofits and companies.
“These are federal funds that have been handed by Congress, signed into legislation, and promised to Illinois,” the letter said. “State businesses, small companies, nonprofit organizations, and on a regular basis residents throughout Illinois — together with in rural communities — are nonetheless having bother accessing allotted federal funding.”
A federal decide issued one other ruling final week prohibiting the Trump administration from blocking distribution of federal funding.
The tip of funding for the applications comes as Illinois farmers face new tariffs imposed on three of the state’s largest buying and selling companions and retaliatory tariffs towards American items. Illinois farmers exported practically $14 billion of agricultural merchandise in 2023, in response to the Illinois Farm Bureau.
“Illinois farmers’ merchandise – from grains and feed, corn, soybeans, ethanol, beef, pork, and extra – depend on entry to international markets and can undoubtedly be impacted by these new tariffs both via elevated costs or decreased market entry,” Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan mentioned in an announcement. “This uncertainty coupled with an already struggling farm financial system has farmers apprehensive as we head into planting season.”
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan information service that distributes state authorities protection to a whole lot of stories shops statewide. It’s funded primarily by the Illinois Press Basis and the Robert R. McCormick Basis.
