On March 10, many news outlets announced that the USDA, under guidance from the Trump Administration with advisement from D.O.G.E, has cancelled over $1 billion dollars distributed across the nation for local food programs, specifically the Local Food for Schools Program, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

Both programs have been directly investing in Chautauqua County; not only feeding children, many of whom live in our county in poverty, but also compensating our local, small, and family-owned farms.

In 2024, via the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Program, over $200,000 was invested in over 25 county farms, managed by our local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Many of our county schools have also benefited from the Local Food for Schools program, increasing the offerings of fresh local produce, locally raised meats, and locally crafted dairy products.

As a friend to the ag-community, I can attest that many county farms benefit from these programs, and have expressed a continued need for such funding. A decrease in contracts with grocery chains, the disappearance of ‘mom and pop’ grocers, and inflation have resulted in many farms struggling to make ends meet. These programs for our county will end quite shortly due to these cuts, and any future funding opportunities, despite a promise in October of 2024 for continued funding, have been eliminated.

The USDA’s exact reasoning, shared with farmers and organizations who have received funding from these programs, is that the new administration “has determined this agreement no longer effectuates agency priorities and that termination of the award is appropriate.”

So, what exactly about these programs is ‘no longer’ aligned with the federal government’s priorities? Feeding children? Supporting our public schools? Investing in small, local farms and agriculture businesses? It is truly baffling to me that the GOP, Trump, and Elon Musk (reminder-an unelected, billionaire) have deemed investment in agriculture, the backbone of this country, as no longer a priority.

Without these programs, our local schools will have to once again heavily purchase food for our children exclusively from the USDA or processed food businesses. No more local apples, tomatoes, or ground beef. Local food pantries, churches and communities will have to end programs that, locally, have brought upwards of 500,000 pounds of fresh, local foods to Chautauqua County residents. What will replace this funding? Private funding, school budgets, food bank funding, and community donations will not be able to keep pace, and investments in local farms will dwindle.

These cuts come on the heel of cuts made to another USDA program, the Farmers Market Promotion Program, which has also historically invested in Chautauqua County, specifically to enhance the Jamestown Public Market.

When I contacted Congressman Nick Langworthy, who bills himself as a staunch proponent of agriculture, about these cuts his response indicated that he is perfectly fine with the actions of Mr. Trump and Elon. Specifically, he stated, “The American people spoke loud and clear in the 2024 election and gave President Trump a decisive mandate to enact his agenda” and that he and I “may not see eye to eye on this issue…”

This despite Congressman Langworthy campaigning directly to the farm community, many of whom cast their vote for him, as well as he being a founding member of the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Caucus, whose mission is ironically “focused on improving access to affordable, high-quality foods and primary care to help Americans lead healthier, longer lives.”

I don’t recall Mr. Trump stating that his agenda would include the dismantling of local farms. And how disappointing to see that Congressman Langworthy is, in fact, NOT supportive of local agriculture or healthy food access.

I encourage you to write Congressman Langworthy and ask why he feels so strongly that farmers in our county lose income. Why does he feel that sharing locally grown food with our children is not a priority? What does he say to the family-owned farms that will now struggle even more without these investments?

This is not the first cut the Trump administration has made that will severely impact our country, and it won’t be the last. But it is appalling that less than two months into his new administration, Mr. Trump is willing to put America’s farmers and our children on the chopping block.

Linnea Haskin is a Jamestown resident.